March 7, 2017

The end of the first half of the Montana legislature is complete with fewer bills being introduced the usual.  With legislators returning to Helena things will begin to wind up to work towards completing the session and dealing with remaining bills and fiscal concerns for the state, and the pace of introduced bills and hearings is significantly increasing. 

Your Legislative Committee continues to be great in reviewing bills and providing guidance to your government relations person.  

Below you will find  list of current bills being monitored by your lobbyist, legislative committee , staff and leadership. Bill numbers are linked to the detailed information page for each bill.

View the current bill text by clicking on the links next to the Bill Draft Number. Look for the pointing finger icon:
The bills that are most significant are in "bold" and the current status is in "red".

Do you have a relationship with your legislator? Let the legislative committee and Roger know. The most important and affective representation for your agency, your clients and yourself, is one-to-one contact on a grass-roots basis. Roger can be contacted at govrelations@iiamt.org.
Bill Waiting to Be Introduced
Short Title:  “Montana Workers’ Compensation Modernization Act” This is a bill to liquidate the Montana State Fund. 

The following link is a Miles City Star Newspaper article regarding the bill.  

House Bills

HB 24
Providing protections to vulnerable persons from financial exploitation
The bill passed the Senate as amended and returned to the House as amended.  The amendments should be accepted by the House and the bill forwarded to the Governor.

HB 73
Regulate certain air ambulance memberships as insurance
The bill has passed the House with significant amendments and will be heard in (S) Business, Labor and economic development 3/9/17.

HB 120
Revise insurance laws pertaining to NAIC accreditation
The Governor has signed The Bill.

HB 123
Require certain insurance disclosures to minimize surprise bills
This bill was taken from the table, amended and passed the house unanimously then transmitted to the Senate. 

HB 137
Generally revise securities and insurance laws pertaining to the State Auditor
The bill passed the House as amended and transmitted to the Senate. The IIAM supports the Bill as amended. 
 

HB 138 
Revise licensing of general insurance agent laws
The Governor signed This bill.  The IIAM Supported this bill as amended.

HB 142
Revise insurance law to give mental health coverage parity with physical health
The bill passed the House with a 50-49 and has been transmitted to the Senate.   

HB 144
Generally revise motor vehicle laws
The bill passed the House and is scheduled for hearing in (S) Highways and Transportation 3/7/17.

HB 145
Adopt NAIC model legislation regarding Annuities.  
Passed the House as amended with the Insurance Department Amendments.  The bill will be heard in (S) Business, Labor and Economic affairs 3/9/17.  The IIAM does not oppose as amended.  

HB 165 
Revise punitive damage laws
Passed the House as significantly amended and heard in (S) Judiciary 2/3/17.

HB 222 
Revise laws related to insurance and storm damage repairs
Died in (H) Business & Labor Committee

HB 229
Allowing worker to choose treating physician in workers' compensation cases
Died in (H) Business & Labor Committee

HB 266 
Authorize interstate healthcare compact
Passed the House and will be heard in (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety 3/10/17.

HB 267
Revise laws related to bicycles on roadways
Passed the House and Transmitted to the Senate and heard 2/7/17 (S) in Highways and Transportation, establishes distances vehicles must stay from bicycles

HB 291 
Prohibit certain underwriting factors for private passenger insurance.
Died on Third Reading in the House on a vote of 48-52.  The IIAM strongly opposed this bill.

HB 342 
Revise business laws related to liability and agritourism
Bill passed the House and scheduled for hearing in (S) Judiciary 3/9/17.

HB 346
Designate fiscal agent as employer for workers’ compensation insurance
Passed the House and scheduled for hearing in (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs 3/8/17.

HB 356 
Prohibit individual health insurance discrimination with some exceptions.  
Died in (H) Human Services Committee.

HB 358
Revise workers'' compensation laws pertaining to release of information        Passed the House and transmitted to the Senate.

HB 380
Prohibit texting while driving
Died in (H) Judiciary Committee. 

HB 392
Creating the family and medical leave insurance act
Tabled in (H) Business and Labor Committee.

HB 395
Require PSC approval of certain hospital charges      
Tabled in (H) Human Services Committee.  

HB 400
Require disclosure of health care prices 
Passed the House and transmitted to the Senate.

HB 427
Clarify property owner not liable for firefighter acts
Passed the House and transmitted to the Senate.

HB 449 
Revise the definition of wages in workers' compensation insurance.
Passed the House and transmitted to the Senate.

HB 460
Allowing use of fire suppression funds for workers compensation
Died in the house.

HB 488
Provide copayment and coinsurance requirements for chiropractic services 
Died in the House.

HB 490 
Exempt certain sports coaches from unemployment, workers' comp exemption        
Died in the House.

HB 505                                                                                                                             Establish requirements for insurance coverage of contraceptives              
Died in the House.

HB 515    
Revise insurance laws pertaining to water damage.
Died in the House. The IIAM Opposed this bill.

HB 544                                                                                                                             Revise laws pertaining to uninsured and underinsured motorist vehicle insurance  Died in the House. 
The IIAM had concerns with this bill.

HB 557   
Revise insurance laws pertaining to voluntary traffic safety program.
Died in the House. 

Senate Bills
SB 44 
Provide process to hold patients harmless from balance billing by air ambulance
This bill has been significantly amended Passed the Senate and transmitted to the House .

SB 58                                                     
Prohibit the use of $0 claims for insurance policy cancellation or renewal
 The Bill was taken from the table in (S) Business, Labor and slightly amended and passed by the Senate.  It was heard in (H) Business & Labor 2/16/17.  There is significant opposition from Insurance industry representatives and further amendments are being considered.

SB 72
Create presumptive illness for firefighters
Passed the Senate with amendments and scheduled for Hearing in (H) Business and Labor 3/8/17.  

SB 96
Right to shop act for health care services
Passed the Senate with amendments and will be heard in (H) Human Services 3/8/17   

SB 107 
Provide liability limits for emergency care by volunteer emergency responders
Passed the Senate and referred to (H) Judiciary.

SB 116 
Disallowing workers' compensation benefits for certain false statements
Passed the Senate and scheduled for hearing in (H) Business and Labor 3/21/17.

SB 118
Provide for uniform act regarding fiduciary access to digital assets, providing some immunity
Passed the Senate as amended and referred to (H) Judiciary

SB 129 
Require insurance coverage of teledentistry
Passed the Senate and the House with committee has concurred. 

SB 142
Revise laws related to volunteer emergency personnel and worker's comp insurance
Passed the Senate and concurred in by the (H) Business and Labor Committee.

SB 167
Generally revise laws pertaining to insurance offenses
Passed the Senate and concurred in by (H) Business and Labor Committee

SB 170
Provide civil liability for unmanned aerial vehicle trespass 
Passed from (S) Judiciary Committee as amended and will go to the full Senate.

SB 179
Revise offer of judgment laws 
Passed the Senate and referred to (H) Judiciary Committee.  

SB 184
Revise workers compensation to allow termination of payments due to fraud    
Passed the Senate and scheduled for hearing in (H) Business and Labor 3/10/17.  

SB 212
Revise mature defensive driving laws
Passed the Senate and scheduled for hearing in (H) Business and Labor 3/16/17. The bill would expand this program to all drivers and mandate the discount from 2 to 3 years and the IIAM opposed the bill.  

SB 221   
Create presumption for insurance accidents caused by construction professionals                     
Tabled in (S) Business, Labor and Economic Development committee at the request of the sponsor.  

SB 222                   
Revise insurance laws relating to annuity surrender fees.
Passed the Senate and scheduled for hearing in (H) Business and Labor 3/15/17.  

SB 223                                                                                                                             Revise insurance laws                   
Tabled in (S) Business, Labor and Economic Development committee at the request of the sponsor.  

SB 245
Generally, revise Montana captive insurance laws
Passed from (S) Business, Labor and Economic Development committee unanimously.  

SB 259  
Revise laws related to admissibility of seat belt use                         
Died in the Senate.               

SB 273                                   
Revise civil liability laws related to common carrier pipelines
Died in the Senate  

SB 288                                                                                                             Referendum to revise who pays for litigation costs
Died in (S) Judiciary  

SB 293  
Revise interest payments in civil cases
Passed the Senate as amended and referred to (H) Judiciary Committee.  

SB 298
Revise workers compensation relating to religious individuals and entities
Passed the Senate and referred to (H) Business and Labor Committee.