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MontanaHB 45869th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Generally revise laws related to physician assistants

Sponsored By: Jodee Etchart (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health Care ServicesProfessions and Occupations O-ZCivil ProcedureLiabilityRemedies

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Medical malpractice pain-and-suffering capped at $250,000

The law caps pain-and-suffering (noneconomic) damages in medical malpractice cases at $250,000 per patient. The limit covers past and future noneconomic losses and applies to all claims from the same act or series of acts. The cap is per patient, not per incident; a claimant must prove different acts to treat injuries as separate. Awards above $250,000 are cut by reducing future noneconomic damages first, then past damages; other legal reductions and setoffs then apply. If several claimants are involved, each person’s share is cut proportionally. Juries are not told about the cap, and future noneconomic damages are not discounted to present value. Physician assistants are included as health care providers under this rule, and the law takes effect on passage and approval.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jodee Etchart

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 279 • No: 17

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 43 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 45 • No: 5

House vote • 2/28/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 95 • No: 3

House vote • 2/27/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 96 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/5/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/1/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/24/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/24/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/23/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/16/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/11/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading

    4/11/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report

    3/25/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action

    3/24/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    3/24/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Committee

    3/3/2025Senate

  14. Transmitted to Senate

    2/28/2025House

  15. 3rd Reading

    2/28/2025House

  16. 2nd Reading

    2/27/2025House

  17. 2nd Reading Pass Consideration

    2/26/2025House

  18. Fiscal Note Printed

    2/22/2025House

  19. Committee Report

    2/21/2025House

  20. Fiscal Note Signed

    2/21/2025House

  21. Fiscal Note Received

    2/21/2025House

  22. Committee Executive Action

    2/19/2025House

  23. Hearing

    2/14/2025House

  24. 1st Reading

    2/12/2025House

  25. Referred to Committee

    2/12/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/14/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/22/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/12/2025

    PDF

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