All Roll Calls
Yes: 317 • No: 179
MontanaHB 19769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Revising workers’ compensation laws relating to when the employee is released to return to work
Sponsored By: Anthony Nicastro (Republican)
Became Law
Workers' Compensation
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Doctor review before permanent disability switch
Beginning July 1, 2025, before an insurer changes temporary total or temporary partial disability to permanent partial disability, a doctor must find you reached medical stability. The doctor must list your physical limits and decide if you can return to work, using a job analysis from a rehab provider. The insurer must tell you it got the doctor's report and give you a copy. This step is not required if, at maximum healing, you have no permanent physical impairment.
Checks can end when doctor clears work
Beginning July 1, 2025, temporary total disability benefits can stop on the date a doctor releases you to return to work in some capacity. If you are released to full duty before or at maximum medical improvement, checks may stop when you return to work or after 14 days' written notice, whichever is earlier.
Notice before workers' comp checks stop
Beginning July 1, 2025, an insurer must give 14 days' written notice before denying a claim that already had payments or before stopping all biweekly benefits. The notice goes to you, your authorized representative (if any), and the department. For injuries before July 1, 1987, the insurer must also give 14 days' written notice before cutting benefits from total to partial. If the insurer knows you returned to work, it may stop payments as of the date you returned.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Anthony Nicastro
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/20/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 59 • No: 39
House vote • 3/19/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 60 • No: 39
House vote • 3/17/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 35 • No: 14
House vote • 3/15/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 47 • No: 3
House vote • 1/30/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 58 • No: 42
House vote • 1/29/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 58 • No: 42
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
4/7/2025HouseSigned by Governor
4/7/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
4/1/2025HouseSigned by President
4/1/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
3/28/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
3/21/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
3/20/2025House3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
3/20/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
3/19/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
3/17/2025Senate3rd Reading Concurred
3/17/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
3/15/2025SenateRevised Fiscal Note Printed
3/1/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Signed
2/28/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Received
2/28/2025HouseRevised Fiscal Note Requested
2/25/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
2/24/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
2/24/2025SenateHearing
2/13/2025SenateReferred to Committee
2/13/2025SenateFirst Reading
1/31/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
1/30/2025House3rd Reading Passed
1/30/2025House2nd Reading Passed
1/29/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed
1/27/2025House
Bill Text
As Amended (Version 3)
3/20/2025
Enrolled
3/20/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
2/24/2025
Introduced
1/14/2025