All Roll Calls
Yes: 260 • No: 38
MontanaHB 22769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Establish a contingent litigation fund for occupational licensing boards and programs
Sponsored By: Jodee Etchart (Republican)
Became Law
Labor and EmploymentRevenue, StateRule MakingAppropriations
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Legal cost backstop for small boards
The law creates a Contingent Litigation Fund for licensing boards and programs with a three-year average revenue of $200,000 or less. For disciplinary cases, the Department of Labor and Industry pays legal fees that are over $15,000, if money is in the fund. The department can set rules on how to share the fund and who gets paid first. The fund cannot pay court-ordered penalties or sanctions against a board. Payments can keep going on existing cases even if a board later loses eligibility. Interest and unspent money stay in the fund. The law starts July 1, 2025, and ends June 30, 2031. Any money left at the end is split pro rata among covered boards and programs.
Up to $25 yearly fee for licensees
The Department of Labor and Industry can charge up to $25 per year to each covered licensee. You pay it with your initial or renewal application. The fee is the same across all covered licenses and is not charged in any year when the fund balance on March 31 is over $300,000. This applies only to licensees of boards or programs whose three-year average revenue is $200,000 or less. It starts July 1, 2025, and ends June 30, 2031.
New rules for statutory appropriations
The law updates Montana’s statutory appropriation rules. It defines what counts as a statutory appropriation, lists the only laws that have them, and adds a standing appropriation to pay bond and debt-service costs. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, and, where stated, end June 30, 2031.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Jodee Etchart
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Bruce "Butch" Gillespie
Republican • Senate
Wendy McKamey
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/1/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 35 • No: 15
House vote • 3/31/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 35 • No: 15
House vote • 2/3/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 94 • No: 5
House vote • 1/31/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 96 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
4/17/2025HouseSigned by Governor
4/16/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
4/9/2025HouseSigned by President
4/9/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/7/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/2/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/1/2025House3rd Reading Concurred
4/1/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
3/31/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred
3/20/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred
3/19/2025SenateHearing
2/25/2025SenateReferred to Committee
2/18/2025SenateFirst Reading
2/4/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
2/3/2025House3rd Reading Passed
2/3/2025House2nd Reading Passed
1/31/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed
1/28/2025HouseFiscal Note Printed
1/28/2025HouseFiscal Note Signed
1/27/2025HouseFiscal Note Received
1/27/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed
1/27/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed
1/27/2025HouseHearing
1/20/2025HouseFirst Reading
1/16/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/15/2025
Introduced
1/15/2025