MontanaSB 8669th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Generally revise automatic external defibrillator (AED) program laws

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

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

Clearer definitions for AED programs

The law defines "entity" to include public agencies and private businesses that have or manage AEDs. It defines a public safety answering point as the 24-hour 9-1-1 center that first gets emergency calls. It removes older definitions for the department and emergency medical services to match the new structure.

Good Samaritan protections for AED use

People who use an AED in an emergency are immune from civil lawsuits when they follow this law. The same protection covers people who give CPR, oversee an AED program, run the program, or train others. Immunity does not apply to gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

Enforcement shifts from agency to courts

The health department can no longer issue stop orders for AED violations. Contested-case hearings for those orders are removed. Instead, a county attorney or the department may ask the local district court to stop a violation.

Simpler defibrillator rules for businesses and agencies

If you own or allow an AED, you must give written notice of its location to the local 9-1-1 center. The law ends the requirement for department-approved CPR/AED training before use. It ends the duty to send your AED plan to EMS or 9-1-1 before use. It ends the duty to report every AED use to the state health department. AED programs no longer have to follow department-made AED rules under this part. The law does not set a new training standard.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Greg Hertz
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Curtis Schomer
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 295 • No: 1

House vote • 3/19/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/30/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 48 • No: 1

Senate vote • 1/29/2025