All Roll Calls
Yes: 494 • No: 1
MontanaHB 8269th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House
Generally revise laws related to crimes against children
Sponsored By: Kathy Love (Republican)
Became Law
CrimesRule Making
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Ban on obscene sales to minors
It is illegal to knowingly sell or give obscene material to anyone under 18. Penalties include a $500 to $1,000 fine, up to 6 months in county jail, or both. Cities, counties, and schools may adopt stricter local rules. This applies beginning July 1, 2025.
Broader child sexual abuse laws online
The law expands child‑sex‑abuse crimes to cover electronic acts and threats to share images to force more images or acts. It treats computer‑made images that look like real minors as illegal child pornography. Possession alone can mean up to 10 years in prison or up to a $10,000 fine. Crimes involving children under 16 can bring 4 to 100 years or life. If the child is 12 or younger and the offender is 18 or older, the sentence is 100 years, up to a $50,000 fine, required treatment, lifetime supervision, and continuous monitoring. These rules apply starting July 1, 2025.
Harsher penalties for patronizing minors
Selling sex remains a misdemeanor with up to a $500 fine or 6 months in county jail. Buying sex has higher penalties: up to $5,000 or 5 years for a first offense and up to $10,000 or 10 years after that. If the person was a child or believed to be a child and the buyer was 18 or older, the sentence is 100 years. The first 25 years cannot be suspended or paroled. The buyer may be fined up to $50,000, must complete treatment, and faces lifetime supervision with continuous monitoring. These changes apply July 1, 2025.
Indecent exposure now covers online acts
Indecent exposure includes exposing intimate parts by any means, including electronic messages. Penalties rise with repeat offenses: up to $500 or 6 months in jail for a first offense; up to $1,000 or 1 year for a second; up to $10,000 or 10 years for a third or more. If a person under 16 sees it and the offender is more than 4 years older, prison is at least 4 years (unless the judge finds good cause) and fines can reach $50,000. This applies beginning July 1, 2025.
New crime: grooming a child
The law makes grooming a child for sex a felony. Penalties depend on the child’s age. Many cases carry up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. If the child is under 16, prison can be 4 to 100 years or life. If the child is 12 or younger and the offender is 18 or older, the sentence is 100 years with no parole for the first 25 years, up to a $50,000 fine, required treatment, and lifetime supervision with continuous electronic monitoring. These rules apply beginning July 1, 2025.
Severe penalties for child sex trafficking
Child sex trafficking now carries 100 years in prison. The court cannot suspend or defer the first 25 years, with narrow statutory exceptions. The fine is $400,000. If released after the minimum term, the person has lifetime supervision and continuous satellite monitoring. A child’s consent or mistaken age is not a defense. This applies starting July 1, 2025.
Stronger sex offender registration and reviews
Beginning July 1, 2025, a grooming conviction requires sex‑offender registration. Courts must get a psychosexual evaluation before sentencing, and the evaluator recommends a Level 1, 2, or 3 risk. If you lack a prior evaluation, you must pay for one. Level 3 means a sexually violent predator designation. The Department of Justice may accept another state’s risk level for covered crimes. People can petition to assign or change levels, and lack of a fixed home can affect the level.
All changes start July 1, 2025
The entire act takes effect on July 1, 2025. All the new crimes, penalties, and procedures apply from that date unless noted otherwise.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Kathy Love
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Theresa Manzella
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/21/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 97 • No: 0
House vote • 3/20/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 97 • No: 1
House vote • 2/27/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 50 • No: 0
House vote • 2/14/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 50 • No: 0
House vote • 1/23/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 100 • No: 0
House vote • 1/15/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 100 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
4/7/2025HouseSigned by Governor
4/7/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
4/1/2025HouseSigned by President
4/1/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
3/28/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
3/25/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
3/21/2025House3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
3/21/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
3/20/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
2/27/2025Senate3rd Reading Concurred
2/27/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred
2/26/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred
2/26/2025SenateHearing
2/21/2025SenateRereferred to Committee
2/14/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
2/12/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
2/12/2025SenateHearing
2/3/2025SenateReferred to Committee
1/27/2025SenateFirst Reading
1/24/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
1/23/2025House3rd Reading Passed
1/23/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed
1/22/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed
1/21/2025HouseHearing
1/16/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
5/28/2025
As Amended (Version 3)
2/12/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
1/13/2025
Introduced
12/12/2024