All Roll Calls
Yes: 348 • No: 43
MontanaSB 25669th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET
Generally revise child abuse and neglect laws
Sponsored By: Dennis Lenz (Republican)
Became Law
Family LawMinorsSocial ServicesCourtsCivil Procedure
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Parents get broader case discovery
If you are a parent in a Title 40 or 41 case, the department must let you see and copy its case materials. You get witness names and statements; reports, notes, interviews, expert opinions; photos, videos, and other items; and anything that helps your case. This duty includes materials held by department staff and anyone who took part in the investigation. The department can set reasonable rules to protect physical evidence, including chain of custody. If you show you need more and cannot get it elsewhere, the judge must order it. Courts can penalize a party who does not follow discovery rules. The department must promptly add any new materials it later finds. Reporter identities stay confidential, and attorneys may not release discovery to the public.
Faster record sharing in serious cases
The department must quickly give records to the attorney general, county attorney, local police, or the child and family ombudsman when they ask in writing. It must also share records fast when reports show a child died from abuse or neglect, a sexual offense, exposure to real violence, or drug manufacture or distribution tied to the case. If there is reasonable cause to suspect a child was exposed to a Schedule I or II drug or drug paraphernalia, the department must promptly share investigation results with designated officials or child-safety teams. A child is exposed if caused or allowed to inhale, touch, or ingest those drugs, or to touch drug paraphernalia. When a report alleges sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, the department must send records to the county attorney within 5 business days. Confidential sexual-assault service contractors must report to the department but may omit the victim’s and alleged perpetrator’s names. For youth over age 13, those contractors may not block reporting and must help the youth report to law enforcement or the county attorney when asked.
Who can see child welfare records
The law lists who may get child abuse and neglect records when needed for care, placement, safety, or oversight. This includes parents or guardians, the child and a representative, licensed care and placing agencies, health and mental health providers, schools and school safety teams, and many named public agencies and review teams. The department may share records with its own staff or other agency staff when needed to run programs that help the child. Tribal agencies, qualified experts, and relatives may get records needed to follow the Indian Child Welfare Act. A legislator may view a named child’s records at the department office after a written request, signing confidentiality forms, and an orientation; no copies are allowed and access lasts up to six months. One bracketed clause in this access section ends on June 30, 2025.
Fairer background checks for child-care work
Employers and volunteer programs must ask in writing for records when screening people who may be alone with children. The department releases only substantiated findings that show a risk to children. Licensing agencies may use only substantiated findings about the applicant and may not rely on unrelated or unsubstantiated allegations.
Stronger privacy and limited public release
Child abuse and neglect case records are confidential. Sharing them without legal permission is a misdemeanor. A judge can review records in private and may allow public release only if needed to decide the case fairly. The department may give the news media only limited facts about how a case was handled, and only if the child’s and family’s privacy is protected.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Dennis Lenz
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/28/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 48 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/27/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 47 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/25/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 99 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/24/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 96 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/21/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 27 • No: 23
Senate vote • 2/20/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 31 • No: 19
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
4/17/2025SenateSigned by Governor
4/16/2025SenateTransmitted to Governor
4/8/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/8/2025HouseSigned by President
4/2/2025SenateReturned from Enrolling
3/30/2025SenateSent to Enrolling
3/28/2025Senate3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House
3/28/2025Senate2nd Reading House Amendments Concurred
3/27/2025SenateReturned to Senate with Amendments
3/25/2025House3rd Reading Concurred
3/25/2025House2nd Reading Concurred
3/24/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
3/19/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
3/18/2025HouseHearing
3/5/2025HouseFiscal Note Printed
2/24/2025SenateFirst Reading
2/22/2025HouseReferred to Committee
2/22/2025HouseFiscal Note Signed
2/21/2025SenateTransmitted to House
2/21/2025Senate3rd Reading Passed
2/21/2025SenateFiscal Note Received
2/21/2025Senate2nd Reading Passed
2/20/2025SenateFiscal Note Requested
2/20/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Passed
2/15/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/15/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
3/19/2025
Introduced
2/3/2025