The second half of the 2025 Montana Legislative Session kicked off earlier this month. Several of the bills WFM is monitoring were heard by the “money” committees in each chamber – these are the committees that focus on the fiscal implications of each bill, and are an important hurdle to clear in the legislative process. 

Support

Senate Bill 319 by Sen. Cora Neumann was approved by the Senate on a bipartisan vote and will be heard in its first House committee on Tuesday, April 1! Supported by WFM grantee Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, the bill creates a certification program for Montana doulas to create sustainable practices, qualify for insurance payments, and extend the benefits of doula care to more Montana families. Doulas improve birth outcomes by providing safe, supportive, and empowering experiences during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. 

You can support SB 319 at the House Human Services Committee on Tuesday, April 1, at 3:00 pm by submitting a comment or providing remote testimony (you must register at least two hours before the committee to testify remotely). You can also call the Montana capitol switchboard at (406) 444-4800 to leave a message for any legislator or committee.

House Bill 245 by Rep. Ed Buttrey, a bill reauthorizing the Montana Medicaid program, passed both chambers with bipartisan support and was signed by the Governor on Thursday! HB 245 will allow over 80,000 Montanans to keep their access to health care. Medicaid coverage continuation will help ensure that more women, particularly those with lower incomes, have access to essential health care services, including preventive care and maternal health services. Reducing out-of-pocket health costs and preventing medical debt allows women to allocate their resources toward other needs, such as education, housing, and career development.

House Bill 456 by Rep. Jonathan Karlen expands Best Beginnings scholarship eligibility to all childcare workers, regardless of their family income. Childcare can cost even more than in-state college tuition in Montana and is often an overwhelming burden for working Montana families. Limited childcare options and high costs often force parents – especially women – to turn down promotions and more hours at work or to leave the workforce altogether. Investing in childcare helps parents continue working and helps businesses maintain a strong workforce. This bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee and is awaiting a House Floor vote.

Oppose

Along with WFM Grantees Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, Catalyst Montana, Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and Bridgercare, we oppose several bills that threaten access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare:

• Oppose: HB 121 effectively bans transgender people from using restrooms or public facilities that align with their gender identity. The bill passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor on Thursday. The ACLU of Montana and Legal Voice quickly filed a lawsuit that same afternoon seeking to prevent the bill from going into effect.
• Oppose: HB 316 proposes a constitutional amendment to grant rights to fertilized eggs from the moment of conception. If approved by voters, this could prohibit common forms of birth control, in-vitro fertilization, and life-saving medical care for women. While HB 316 passed the House Floor, and is pending a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, this bill requires a two-thirds vote of both chambers to pass – that’s yes votes from 100 legislators – and is unlikely to garner enough Senate votes to qualify for the ballot. 
• Oppose: SB 437 revives a bill from the last session that was struck down by our state courts – twice! – and attempts to define “sex” in Montana law as rigidly binary and corresponding only to reproductive anatomy. The bill would essentially erase transgender and intersex Montanans from our code and deny them important protections and access to essential documents and services.

Public Participation

We encourage you to join us in advocating for policy change that benefits women and their families as we head down the homestretch of this session. You can submit a comment or provide remote testimony by registering for an account here: https://www.legmt.gov/participate. You can also call the Montana capitol switchboard at (406) 444-4800 to leave a message for any legislator or committee.