MontanaSB 33869th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET

Revise workers' compensation insurance related to who may receive payments

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Judge can appoint benefits administrator

The law creates a benefits administrator role. A workers' compensation judge can appoint someone to pursue benefits or receive payments for a child under 18 or a person found legally incompetent. A claimant, an insurer, or the uninsured employers' fund can ask the judge to appoint one. You do not need to finish dispute‑resolution steps before asking. The judge can appoint or end the appointment. These changes take effect immediately.

Who can get workers' comp checks

The law lets workers' compensation payments owed to a child under 18 or a person found legally incompetent go to a parent, guardian, conservator, or a judge‑appointed benefits administrator. A written receipt from that payee releases the employer, insurer, or department from more liability. If a highway patrol member is receiving the state salary benefit, any payment due goes to the Department of Justice to offset that salary until the member is no longer eligible. In other cases, payments go to the person owed or that person's authorized representative. These rules take effect immediately.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Greg Hertz
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Anthony Nicastro
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 299 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/3/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/1/2025