# Montana HB 77: Generally revise laws related to child abuse and neglect investigations by the department of public health and human services

Montana HB 77, Generally revise laws related to child abuse and neglect investigations by the department of public health and human services, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by SJ Howell (Democrat); status signed, last action 2025-04-07 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB77-2025
- 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 77
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Generally revise laws related to child abuse and neglect investigations by the department of public health and human services
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2024-12-12
- Last action: 2025-04-07, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: SJ Howell (Democrat)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Family Law, Minors
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (297 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- State sends law to tribal nations: benefit, low. The Secretary of State must send a copy of this law to every federally recognized tribal government in Montana. This duty applies upon enactment.
- Temporary investigative authority ends 2025: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2025, the law repeals temporary investigative authority in child welfare cases. Courts and the department can no longer use that remedy. Related references are removed from statute. Families and counties lose that option and must proceed under other available orders.
- Faster, clearer emergency child protection: mixed, medium. The law updates the process for immediate protection in abuse and neglect cases and repeals the old standalone petition section. A show cause hearing must be held within 20 days of filing. An emergency protective order cannot last more than 90 days. The department’s affidavit must include parents’…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: SJ Howell (Democrat), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Yakawich (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-25 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-24 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-17 | House | Do Pass | pass | 98 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-16 | House | Do Pass | pass | 99 | 1 |   |

## Actions (24)

- 2025-04-07: Chapter Number Assigned (House)
- 2025-04-07: Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-03-31: Transmitted to Governor (House)
- 2025-03-31: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-03-27: Returned from Enrolling (House)
- 2025-03-25: Sent to Enrolling (House)
- 2025-03-25: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-24: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-03-19: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-01-20: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2025-01-17: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-01-16: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-01-13: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-01-10: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-01-10: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-01-06: Hearing (House)
- 2025-01-06: 1st Reading (House)
- 2024-12-20: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2024-12-12: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- As Amended (Version 2), 2025-03-26: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=ac38eb85-7824-42c1-bf22-77646ab5c9eb)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-26: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5c1f792c-479c-49ab-9f2a-205fad441f7a)
- Introduced, 2024-12-12: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=7a983094-e781-479f-9f09-7201eb28a776)

## 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 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed)
- SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed)

## Sources
- [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=ac38eb85-7824-42c1-bf22-77646ab5c9eb)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5c1f792c-479c-49ab-9f2a-205fad441f7a)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=7a983094-e781-479f-9f09-7201eb28a776)

## 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 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025)
- [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025)
- [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills)
- [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB77-2025 (as of 2026-10-12).