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MontanaHB 32469th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Revise voluntary payment laws to include all claims

Sponsored By: Steve Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Financial InstitutionsCivil ProcedureLiabilityRemediesTorts

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Partial payments count toward judgments

After a court enters a damages judgment, any voluntary partial payments made before that date are credited and deducted from the judgment. If those payments add up to more than the final judgment, the payer cannot get the extra money back. The law applies to claims where the cause of action arises on or after October 1, 2025.

Voluntary payments protected in claims

Voluntary payments in a liability claim do not count as admitting fault. Partial payments do not waive the claimant’s rights and do not lower the damages they can plead or prove. These protections do not apply to certain insurance unfair-practice suits, attorney-fee fights in contract cases (including offers of judgment and insurer fee claims), or some post‑verdict discretionary damages set by law. The law applies to claims where the cause of action arises on or after October 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Steve Fitzpatrick

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Bruce "Butch" Gillespie

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 291 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 48 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 2/14/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 94 • No: 0

House vote • 2/13/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/5/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/1/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/22/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/21/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/18/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/10/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/8/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading

    4/8/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading

    4/7/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report

    3/20/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action

    3/20/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    3/15/2025Senate

  13. Hearing

    3/6/2025Senate

  14. Hearing Canceled

    3/3/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    2/27/2025Senate

  16. Referred to Committee

    2/21/2025Senate

  17. 1st Reading

    2/20/2025Senate

  18. Transmitted to Senate

    2/14/2025House

  19. 3rd Reading

    2/14/2025House

  20. 2nd Reading

    2/13/2025House

  21. Committee Report

    2/5/2025House

  22. Committee Executive Action

    2/5/2025House

  23. Committee Executive Action

    2/5/2025House

  24. Fiscal Note Printed

    2/4/2025House

  25. Fiscal Note Unsigned

    2/3/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/6/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/28/2025

    PDF

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