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MontanaSB 46869th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Establish central registry for individuals who are the subject of a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect

Sponsored By: Dennis Lenz (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Family LawMinorsCourts

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Child abuse registry and due process

Beginning July 1, 2025, the state keeps a central list of people with a substantiated child abuse or neglect finding. The department must give notice and a chance for a hearing before listing someone. Substantiated means the act is more likely than not; unfounded or unsubstantiated cases are not listed. Agencies can use the list in background checks, which can affect jobs, volunteering, and licenses that involve unsupervised contact with kids. Mandated reporters and agencies must follow new reporting steps so substantiated findings go into the registry.

How to get off the registry

Starting July 1, 2025, anyone listed can ask to be removed for good cause. You must send a written request with an affidavit from someone with personal knowledge. Good cause can be new evidence, proof you no longer pose a risk, case closure with reunification, changed circumstances, or steps you took to prevent it from happening again. The department must decide in 30 days and, if granted, remove your name and destroy related records within 30 days; if denied, you can ask the district court, which can order removal within 30 days. You must wait 2 years after the substantiation to ask, and 2 years after any denial to try again; people listed before the law starts can seek removal, and the department must notify them and post procedures and court contacts online and in offices.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dennis Lenz

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 438 • No: 8

Senate vote • 4/17/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/16/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 47 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/5/2025

AMD-SB0468.001.001 Lenz D/PASS

Yes: 48 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/5/2025

Do Pass As Amended

Yes: 44 • No: 6

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/16/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025Senate

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/5/2025Senate

  4. Signed by Speaker

    5/5/2025House

  5. Signed by President

    4/29/2025Senate

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/20/2025Senate

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/17/2025Senate

  8. 3rd Reading House Amendments

    4/17/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading House Amendments

    4/16/2025Senate

  10. Returned to Senate with Amendments

    4/11/2025House

  11. 3rd Reading

    4/11/2025House

  12. 2nd Reading

    4/10/2025House

  13. Fiscal Note Unsigned

    4/3/2025Senate

  14. Revised Fiscal Note Received

    4/3/2025Senate

  15. Committee Report

    3/29/2025House

  16. Committee Executive Action

    3/28/2025House

  17. Revised Fiscal Note Printed

    3/24/2025Senate

  18. Fiscal Note Unsigned

    3/21/2025Senate

  19. Hearing

    3/19/2025House

  20. Revised Fiscal Note Received

    3/18/2025Senate

  21. 1st Reading

    3/17/2025House

  22. Fiscal Note Printed

    3/17/2025Senate

  23. Referred to Committee

    3/17/2025House

  24. Revised Fiscal Note Requested

    3/14/2025Senate

  25. Fiscal Note Received

    3/14/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/17/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    3/31/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    3/5/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/25/2025

    PDF

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