# Montana HB 532: Generally revise laws related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults Montana HB 532, Generally revise laws related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Bill Mercer (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (Chapter Number Assigned); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB532-2025 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Montana HB 532 - State: Montana - Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) - Title: Generally revise laws related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of incapacitated persons and vulnerable adults - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-18 - Last action: 2025-05-13, Chapter Number Assigned - Sponsor: Bill Mercer (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Criminal Procedure, Discrimination, Law Enforcement, Crimes, Developmental Disabilities, Senior Citizens - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 5 (397 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 8 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Tougher crimes for abusing vulnerable adults: benefit, medium. The law makes it a felony to purposely or knowingly abuse, sexually abuse, or neglect a vulnerable adult. A first negligent abuse is a misdemeanor; repeat negligent abuse becomes a felony. Causing personal degradation is a misdemeanor first, then a felony on repeat. Taking a vulnerable adult’s mone… - Abuse now a serious, violent crime: benefit, low. Abuse or sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult is treated as a crime of violence and a serious crime. These crimes also count as sexual or violent offenses for registration and sentencing rules. This leads to tougher sentencing and closer supervision for people convicted of these offenses. - Clearer who is a vulnerable adult: benefit, low. The law clarifies who counts as a vulnerable adult. It includes people age 60 or older and adults with serious physical or mental limits or listed developmental disabilities. “Abuse” now means assault under state law. “Neglect” and “personal degradation” are clearly defined, and “sexual abuse” link… - Vulnerable victims’ statements can count: benefit, low. Courts can use some out-of-court statements from an incapacitated person or a vulnerable adult in listed abuse and related cases. The person must be unavailable to testify, and the judge must find the statement is trustworthy and more helpful than other proof. The side using it must give pretrial n… - Tougher ID theft penalties for seniors: benefit, low. Identity theft penalties rise when the victim is a minor, an incapacitated person, or a vulnerable adult. For gains under $1,500, fines can reach $3,000 or jail up to 1 year for these victims. For $1,500 to $5,000, penalties can reach $20,000 or prison up to 20 years. For over $5,000, penalties can… - Mental health checks in child assault cases: mixed, medium. If you are convicted of certain assaults on a minor, your presentence report can include a mental health evaluation. A qualified psychiatrist or licensed psychologist must do it. The report can recommend treatment in the least restrictive setting. You pay for the evaluation unless the court finds y… - Sex offender evaluations and risk levels: mixed, medium. If you are convicted of listed sexual or related crimes, the court orders a psychosexual evaluation by a licensed evaluator. You pay for the evaluation unless the court finds you indigent. At sentencing, the judge sets your risk level (Level 1, 2, or 3). Level 3 counts as a sexually violent predato… - Faster presentence reports and $50 fee: mixed, low. After a felony plea or verdict, the presentence report is due in 30 business days, unless more time is needed. A $50 fee is due when the report is finished, unless the judge finds you cannot pay soon. Judges must consider the report before sentencing. For misdemeanors, judges may order a report onl… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Bill Mercer (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Cora Neumann (Democrat), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-14 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 48 | 0 | | | 2025-04-12 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 50 | 0 | | | 2025-03-04 | House | Do Pass | pass | 99 | 0 | | | 2025-03-01 | House | Do Pass As Amended | pass | 100 | 0 | | | 2025-03-01 | House | AMD-HB0532.001.002 Mercer DO PASS | pass | 100 | 0 | | ## Actions (32) - 2025-05-13: Chapter Number Assigned (House) - 2025-05-08: Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-05-01: Transmitted to Governor (House) - 2025-05-01: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-04-29: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-04-15: Returned from Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-14: Sent to Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-14: 3rd Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-12: 2nd Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-28: Committee Report (Senate) - 2025-03-28: Committee Executive Action (Senate) - 2025-03-27: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-21: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-17: Revised Fiscal Note Printed (House) - 2025-03-17: Revised Fiscal Note Signed (House) - 2025-03-17: Revised Fiscal Note Received (House) - 2025-03-05: Referred to Committee (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Revised Fiscal Note Requested (House) - 2025-03-04: Transmitted to Senate (House) - 2025-03-04: 3rd Reading (House) - 2025-03-01: 2nd Reading (House) - 2025-03-01: 2nd Reading Motion to Amend (House) - 2025-02-27: Committee Report (House) - 2025-02-27: Fiscal Note Printed (House) - 2025-02-27: Fiscal Note Signed (House) - 2025-02-27: Fiscal Note Received (House) - 2025-02-24: Committee Executive Action (House) - 2025-02-20: Fiscal Note Requested (House) - 2025-02-18: Hearing (House) - 2025-02-18: 1st Reading (House) - 2025-02-18: Referred to Committee (House) - 2025-02-18: Introduced (House) ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-04-15: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=99f3e210-87bb-4e1b-b52d-e37b7f374f27) - As Amended (Version 2), 2025-03-01: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=3f253f5a-152e-4cee-a51d-083a351b8492) - Introduced, 2025-02-18: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=9e451e97-5277-4098-b9a7-bef8d63afee3) ## Related bills - SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed) - HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed) - HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed) - SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed) - SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed) - SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=99f3e210-87bb-4e1b-b52d-e37b7f374f27) - [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=3f253f5a-152e-4cee-a51d-083a351b8492) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=9e451e97-5277-4098-b9a7-bef8d63afee3) ## Related - [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025) - [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025) - [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025) - [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025) - [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025) - [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025) - [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills) - [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB532-2025 (as of 2026-10-12).