MontanaHB 69469th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise laws related to child abuse and neglect

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Fewer removals, more reunification support

Child protective services cannot remove a child based only on an allegation. The agency must have reasonable cause to believe the child faces imminent harm before removal. If your child is removed, the department must support reunification. It must consider whether court-ordered support payments make reunification harder and tailor services accordingly.

Safer placements and faster family notice

When a child is removed, the department prioritizes placing with extended family, including fictive kin, in the least restrictive, close-to-home setting. Before approving any home, it checks if anyone living there has a conviction for seriously harming children. Relatives can join a voluntary registry to get notice on the first working day after placement. The registry includes the child and parents’ names and contact info and may list grandparents, aunts, uncles, and adult siblings. The department may charge a fee to people who sign up, limited to operating costs, and safety checks can limit or delay some placements.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Bill Mercer
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Dennis Lenz
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 184 • No: 160

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 30 • No: 18

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

AMD-HB0694.002.002 Emrich D/PASS

Yes: 4 • No: 44

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 36 • No: 14

House vote • 3/7/2025

Vote

Yes: 57 • No: 42

House vote • 3/5/2025

Do Pass