What happened on Saturday, 20 January 2024
2025 Legislature MT, Montana
Representative Neil Durham sponsored HB 174 to criminalize administering a wide range of drugs (Schedules 1–5, alcohol, diphenhydramine) without consent. Advocates for domestic‑violence survivors supported restrictions; several committee members raised concerns that the bill is overly broad and could criminalize common parental, medical or accidental exposures.
2025 Legislature MT, Montana
Representative Neil Durham told the House Judiciary Committee HB 173 would remove the word “natural” from the youth‑court victim definition so businesses, corporations and governments may receive restitution; civil‑liberties and anti‑poverty witnesses urged rejection, warning restitution harms low‑income youth and families.
2025 Legislature MT, Montana
After hearings the committee moved into executive action, advancing a package of bills (HB 30, 35, 36, 38, 49, 65, 83, 102, 147, 169) with roll‑call votes on several controversial items including HB 30 (burden of proof), HB 35 (administrative placement of Judicial Standards Commission), HB 36 (chair eligibility), HB 38 (disability parking), HB 65 (audit of State Bar), HB 83 (MMIP task force), and HB 169 (judicial political activity).
2025 Legislature MT, Montana
House Bill 191 would create a misdemeanor for committing specified domestic assault offenses in the presence of a child; proponents including a domestic‑violence prosecutor and victim‑service groups argued it protects children from trauma, while witnesses and members discussed predominant‑aggressor rules, penalties and prosecution practicalities.