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MontanaHB 7669th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Generally revise laws related to the board of behavioral health

Sponsored By: SJ Howell (Democrat)

Became Law

Health Care ServicesHealth

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

New rules for peer and family support

Peer support and family peer support cannot be practiced without a license or certification. Behavioral peer support requires a diagnosis, treatment history, being in recovery, and finishing an approved program with ethics training. Family peer support requires being a parent, guardian, or caregiver of a child under 21 with significant needs and finishing an approved program with ethics training. All peer support work must be supervised by a mental health professional in a way that fits the setting and the worker’s skills. The board lists and approves flexible, affordable programs, and a mental health professional includes licensed doctors, psychiatric nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors, addiction counselors, and marriage and family therapists.

Who needs a behavioral health license

The law defines behavioral health to include social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, addiction counseling, and peer support. It lets some people work without a board license if they act within their own jobs or training and do not use the board’s titles. Exempt groups include other licensed professionals, clergy, government workers on duty, business employees serving coworkers, and students or interns in supervised accredited programs.

Behavioral health candidate licenses and faster path

You can apply for candidate licensure after you finish the required education, even if you lack supervised hours. You must submit a training and supervision plan. The board sets how many years you can hold candidate status. After you complete supervised work, you may take an approved exam; if you pass, you must apply for full licensure or certification to keep practicing. Peer support candidates can be certified after supervised work without taking an exam.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • SJ Howell

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 478 • No: 164

House vote • 4/29/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 42 • No: 8

House vote • 4/28/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 68 • No: 32

House vote • 4/28/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 2

House vote • 4/25/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 88 • No: 12

House vote • 4/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 31 • No: 19

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 31 • No: 17

House vote • 4/10/2025

Take HB 76 from Comm-Smith

Yes: 27 • No: 21

House vote • 1/17/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 69 • No: 29

House vote • 1/16/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 75 • No: 24

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/19/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/7/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/6/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/2/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    5/1/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/29/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted

    4/29/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted

    4/28/2025Senate

  10. 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted

    4/28/2025House

  11. 2nd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted

    4/25/2025House

  12. Returned with Governor's Proposed Amendments

    4/23/2025House

  13. Transmitted to Governor

    4/23/2025House

  14. Signed by President

    4/22/2025Senate

  15. Signed by Speaker

    4/22/2025House

  16. Returned from Enrolling

    4/15/2025House

  17. Sent to Enrolling

    4/12/2025House

  18. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/12/2025Senate

  19. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/11/2025Senate

  20. Taken from Committee; Placed on 2nd Reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  21. Tabled in Committee

    3/28/2025Senate

  22. Committee Executive Action--Bill Not Concurred as Amended

    3/28/2025Senate

  23. Hearing

    3/14/2025Senate

  24. Referred to Committee

    1/20/2025Senate

  25. First Reading

    1/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Amended (Version 4)

    4/30/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 5)

    4/30/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    1/13/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    12/12/2024

    PDF

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