MontanaHB 86969th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Provide for the sudden cardiac arrest prevention in youth sports

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stronger cardiac safety in school sports

Starting July 1, 2025, the state posts a one-page fact sheet on sudden cardiac arrest for families and coaches. Each season, schools tell coaches their duties. Coaches keep CPR, first aid, and AED certifications and hold a short preseason talk on warning signs. Starting with the 2026–27 school year, schools with sports have a venue-specific cardiac emergency plan. Plans include unlocked, easy-to-reach AEDs at events, hands-on staff training and drills, EMS coordination, and yearly reviews and maintenance.

Students with warning signs must sit out

Starting July 1, 2025, if a coach, trainer, or official sees warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest, the student is taken out. The coach must try to contact a parent or guardian. The student cannot return until a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner gives written clearance. Families may need a medical visit to get that note.

More ways to fund AEDs and safety

Starting July 1, 2025, Montana adds funding tools for school safety and AEDs. OPI gets $240,000 for 2025–27 to reimburse districts dollar for dollar, up to $700 per AED, and may use up to 5% to run the program. Districts with a certified safety plan can move most local or state funds into the building reserve for safety, not from debt service or retirement, and must return unused money within two school fiscal years. Voters can approve a local safety levy; elections follow school laws, and the levy is not counted as outstanding debt for the usual limit. Districts must keep safety money in separate building reserve subfunds.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Melissa Romano
Democrat • House

Cosponsors

Sue Vinton
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 243 • No: 47

House vote • 4/18/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 45 • No: 5

House vote • 4/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 42 • No: 3

House vote • 4/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 75 • No: 23

House vote • 4/4/2025