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MontanaHB 24569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise the Montana HELP Act workforce development provisions and termination date

Sponsored By: Ed Buttrey (Republican)

Became Law

Health Care ServicesAppropriationsHealth

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Funding and oversight for workforce programs

Beginning October 1, 2025, the health department uses TANF reserve funds, when possible, to help pay for workforce services. The labor department must report to two legislative committees on the employer grant program, how many employers got awards, the types of training and jobs, the services provided, and total costs, including admin costs.

Job and training help for Medicaid adults

Beginning October 1, 2025, adults on Montana’s Medicaid HELP coverage can choose a job or reemployment assessment. The department contacts people who must meet community engagement rules and helps finish the assessment. You can get training for high-demand jobs, including health care and entry‑level cybersecurity, plus help with clothes, transport, and work gear. Private nonprofits or businesses provide these services under state contracts. If the department says you have received all reasonable help, it can stop services, and you no longer qualify for the exemption in 53‑6‑1307(6)(c).

Stronger ID checks for unemployment claims

Beginning October 1, 2025, the department upgrades systems to confirm identity and work status for unemployment claims. It uses knowledge‑based checks and public records to verify identity and flag changes, to reduce fraud and improper payments.

Quarterly reports for training contractors

Beginning October 1, 2025, contractors that run workforce programs must file quarterly reports. Reports must list enrollments and co‑enrollments, services given, credentials earned, program exits and job placements, ongoing enrollments, outreach, and money spent on participants.

Old session laws repealed

The law repeals certain past session‑law sections from 2015, 2019, and 2021. The exact effects depend on what those prior sections did.

Start dates for this law

Most of the law takes effect on passage and approval. The workforce development changes in Section 1 start on October 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ed Buttrey

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 342 • No: 254

House vote • 2/27/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 30 • No: 20

House vote • 2/20/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 29 • No: 21

House vote • 2/10/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 63 • No: 37

House vote • 2/7/2025

Rerefer -to APH - Zolnikov

Yes: 38 • No: 61

House vote • 2/7/2025

AMD-HB0245.001.001 Falk DO PASS

Yes: 35 • No: 64

House vote • 2/7/2025

Cloture-Duram

Yes: 85 • No: 14

House vote • 2/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 62 • No: 37

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    3/27/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    3/27/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    3/18/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    3/18/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    3/7/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    3/3/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    2/27/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Concurred

    2/27/2025Senate

  9. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    2/26/2025Senate

  10. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    2/25/2025Senate

  11. Hearing

    2/21/2025Senate

  12. Rereferred to Committee

    2/20/2025Senate

  13. 2nd Reading Concurred

    2/20/2025Senate

  14. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    2/17/2025Senate

  15. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    2/17/2025Senate

  16. Hearing

    2/13/2025Senate

  17. Referred to Committee

    2/13/2025Senate

  18. First Reading

    2/11/2025Senate

  19. Transmitted to Senate

    2/10/2025House

  20. 3rd Reading Passed

    2/10/2025House

  21. Motion Failed

    2/7/2025House

  22. 2nd Reading Passed

    2/7/2025House

  23. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed

    2/7/2025House

  24. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    1/29/2025House

  25. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    1/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    3/19/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    3/1/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/17/2025

    PDF

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