# Montana SB 249: Revise child abuse and neglect laws involving adjudication

Montana SB 249, Revise child abuse and neglect laws involving adjudication, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) Senate bill sponsored by Dennis Lenz (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-17 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB249-2025
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Montana SB 249
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Revise child abuse and neglect laws involving adjudication
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-31
- Last action: 2025-04-17, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Dennis Lenz (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Family Law, Minors, Evidence, Courts
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (223 yes, 76 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger evidence rules in child welfare cases: benefit, low. The law changes what judges must hear in Montana child abuse and neglect cases. Courts must hear evidence about care by nonparent caregivers, why the child was placed there, and stability of home, school, and activities. Judges consider if past orders or a conviction kept a parent from return, or i…
- Law takes effect on approval: mixed, low. The law takes effect on passage and approval. Courts, agencies, and families in these cases must follow the new rules starting then.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dennis Lenz (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Valerie Moore (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-28 | House | Do Concur | pass | 61 | 38 |   |
| 2025-03-27 | House | Do Concur | pass | 62 | 38 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | Senate | Do Pass | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-20 | Senate | Do Pass | pass | 50 | 0 |   |

## Actions (23)

- 2025-04-17: Chapter Number Assigned (Senate)
- 2025-04-16: Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-08: Transmitted to Governor (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-30: Returned from Enrolling (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: Sent to Enrolling (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-03-27: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-03-19: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-03-18: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-03-05: Hearing (House)
- 2025-02-22: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-02-22: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-02-21: Transmitted to House (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-15: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: Introduced (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2025-04-15: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=454487a3-1343-45ea-b6b7-f52b1edcb919)
- As Amended (Version 2), 2025-03-28: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=fb89cc72-9fee-447e-acb7-e4f5b42e456c)
- Introduced, 2025-01-31: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=8050a360-0757-4794-a606-b52685ffb8f3)

## 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
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=454487a3-1343-45ea-b6b7-f52b1edcb919)
- [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=fb89cc72-9fee-447e-acb7-e4f5b42e456c)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=8050a360-0757-4794-a606-b52685ffb8f3)

## 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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB249-2025 (as of 2026-10-12).