MontanaHB 18369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Enact PA licensure compact

Sponsored By: Jodee Etchart (Republican)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 3 mixed.

When your compact privilege can end

Your compact privilege lasts until your qualifying license expires or is revoked. If your licensing state takes adverse action, all your compact privileges are deactivated. They stay off until your license is no longer limited and two years have passed. Orders must say the privilege is deactivated, and states must report actions quickly. To prescribe controlled substances in another state, you must meet that state’s rules.

Discipline and cross-state investigations for PAs

The state that issued your license handles discipline on that license, and must treat out‑of‑state reports like in‑state ones. A remote member state can act against your compact privilege and can issue subpoenas for investigations, but cannot use them to punish conduct that is legal where it happened. Courts in the state where a witness or records are located enforce subpoenas, and the issuing authority must pay required witness and travel fees. States may run joint investigations and share materials. Where state law allows, a state can make a disciplined PA pay investigation and case costs.

Multistate practice for qualified PAs

Montana joins the PA licensure compact so you can practice in other member states with a compact privilege instead of new full licenses. To qualify, you must graduate from an accredited PA program and hold current NCCPA certification. You need an unrestricted license, the commission’s required ID, and no disqualifying criminal history or suspended or revoked controlled‑substance registration. If you had restrictions, you must wait two years after they end. You must tell the commission, meet any remote‑state law test, and pay any required fees.

How the PA compact runs and starts

The law creates a PA Licensure Compact Commission to run the compact and a shared data system for licenses and discipline. Commission rules have the force of law in member states, with public notice and comment; emergency rules need 24 hours’ notice. The compact starts when seven states enact it; a state that withdraws keeps privileges in place for 180 days. States must use a national exam, run background checks, join the data system, and report adverse actions. Conflicting state laws yield to the compact; the commission has an executive committee, legal immunity for its staff, and tools to enforce or end a state’s participation.

Fees and paperwork to use the compact

Member states may charge a fee to grant a compact privilege. The commission can also charge licensees compact‑privilege fees and assess states to fund its budget. Your compact privilege ends when the license you applied through expires. If you switch the state you apply through, you must tell the commission and may owe a new fee. When you apply, you must pick an applying state, give your primary home address, keep it updated, and accept legal service by mail there.

Stronger background checks for Montana PAs

For a Montana PA license, you must submit fingerprints for state and federal criminal‑history checks and pay fees. The board can also require fingerprints when you renew. The Montana Department of Justice may share fingerprint data with the FBI.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Jodee Etchart
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Gregg Hunter
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 290 • No: 4

House vote • 3/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 2

House vote • 3/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 2

House vote • 1/28/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote • 1/27/2025