[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6353480,"mediaKeyId","2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a","parentId",2221271,"title","Senate advances bill widening endangerment statute to cover certain treatments for under-16s","audioSeconds",1635,"startMs",662000,"endMs",2297000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a&start=662&end=2297","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a/thumbnail_662000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353480/Montana/Senate-advances-bill-widening-endangerment-statute-to-cover-certain-treatments-for-under-16s","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353480-7b1c01de094050ccf2dbd9bbc0c47e96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193634&Signature=FKIm-UMpAmL7o4iK6noUjkYkw6ymJRlcObuEGL23-8xyzqVPegL2MfIC97LpuKira4jz8046r1c64Ql6A73jNvjOizIPA9ToC6WWao4lKx8HmPoJcNFfEGWUbyqSlBb8Gg2Q7ESONWxSQYzkBcWEfkDKDfNNuoQvX3zyt5GcKnoPVvkRmi5Q510M4BO-XEMOKNY7UdzDNHumkQYT7NweDiy7YFsl1s1IKT9biD8jeA7U~UB-AbMkCElEC-7l2tTUuI1oLpiStUnDJzeuIfzd5iIn4Wynd9FZh00wWtppn8jLXpEuTjQxYLWDOBSm1z9OcS0bS6Q-wtPhLbXTqsMIBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 164, a measure introduced by Senator Fuller to amend the state's child endangerment statute, advanced on second reading in the Committee of the Whole by a 30-20 vote.

The bill would add to Section 45-5-6622 provisions that make it an offense for a person to \"knowingly procure or provide\" specified medical or surgical treatments on a child younger than 16 for the purpose of altering appearance or affirming a child's perception when that appearance or perception is inconsistent with the child's biological characteristics. Senator Fuller said the amendment \"is an act revising the offense of endangering the welfare of children\" and pointed members to the operative lines in the bill.

The sponsor urged passage as protective: \"I urge you, please, to protect the children of Montana. Vote green,\" Fuller said in closing.

Opponents argued the bill would criminalize parents and health-care providers and carry significant consequences for families and the justice system. \"This bill, unfortunately, is far from simple, and it actually would criminalize, and have very, very serious consequences on the Montanans that it would impact,\" said Senator Newman, who urged a no vote. Senator Flowers said the bill \"makes a felon out of anyone who supports or provides care to a youth 16 or younger as prescribed in the bill. This includes parents, guardians, physicians, and any other health care providers.\" Flowers also raised fiscal concerns, noting there was no fiscal note accounting for costs to district courts, public defenders, or corrections.

Other debate focused on constitutional limits and on whether the bill's language implicitly reached beyond the written text. Sponsor Fuller said the amendment only targets the listed procedures and that prosecutorial discretion and constitutional review would apply. Several senators raised questions about how child-welfare removals or prosecutions might proceed; Fuller and colleagues referenced existing child-welfare statutes and prosecutorial discretion in responses.

The clerk recorded the vote 30 in favor and 20 opposed; the committee reported the bill do pass on second reading and it moved forward in the process.

Votes at second reading: 30 ayes, 20 nays.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session 2025-02-03","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 164, a measure introduced by Senator Fuller to amend the state's child endangerment statute, advanced on second reading in the Committee of the Whole by a 30-20 vote.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353459,"Committee of the Whole advances a package of bills on second reading; several pass with minimal debate",65,5500000,5565000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a&start=5500&end=5565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a/thumbnail_5500000.jpg","/articles/6353459/Montana/Committee-of-the-Whole-advances-a-package-of-bills-on-second-reading-several-pass-with-minimal-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353459-20db6c9b2d4a8f561a508a6712f74f3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193634&Signature=EcInD8k0TVH57ylrrU~r-NonIDNKa3fcjM9bGjgNZRYNK53SrlFe-4Y31qUqhD9hDh~tU72CRp4nvFzhn3qNjdd3F24qm4Ju8OGOKayNcxv5xreHO79QjL3GuWWeTvH43N2XriPefD~HBhkCtgsxDjVT9vkYQ5UCSHY7GFMssaabQSTa4myIDtiyCRKUrsGGn4zS-F1s64CtlFFceOTw9dMRQfFXF1mGIL3Tf1RB9ZWxAqVfr1KKBFL-ugDSSyf~orryfa6ukrjEc~CiBngnFPD1hXlcQMKZZm1KB7LcjC4dP3nrlgmwPa-xjJjC0JPZnV6oFMCM~InGDJURGr-AtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate's Committee of the Whole reported a package of bills do pass on second reading during floor action today. Several of the measures were debated at length (see separate stories), while others moved forward with relatively brief discussion or committee-level action.

Bills reported do pass on second reading (committee report):

- Senate Bill 194 (Trevis): Moves administrative appeals for public assistance from the Board of Public Assistance to the Department of Public Health and Human Services (45 ayes, 5 nays).

- Senate Bill 82 (Yakovich): Establishes an adjustment to the blindness program and creates eligibility and independent living services and hearing rights (42 ayes, 8 nays).

- Senate Bill 69 (Lammers): Revises county attorney reporting requirements related to childhood abuse; changes reporting to once per year (reported vote: 50 ayes, 0 nays recorded at the time of announcement).

- Senate Bill 144 (Yakovich): Changes the name of the Mental Health Oversight Advisory Council to the Behavioral Health Advisory Council (50 ayes, 0 nays reported).

- Senate Joint Resolution 3 (Usher): Urges Congress to revise commercial driver's license laws (42 ayes, 8 nays).

In addition, the committee reported earlier-mentioned measures (SB 164; SB 112; SB 113 as amended; SB 158) do pass on second reading; separate coverage has been filed for bills with sustained debate.

Clerk-recorded tallies were read into the record for each bill; the committee report was adopted by the Senate and the measures proceed in the legislative process.","The Committee of the Whole reported a slate of bills do pass on second reading, including measures on appeals processing for public assistance, blindness program adjustments, towing liens (as amended), and more. Vote tallies are listed.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353464,"Senate approves bill to send completed judicial-investigation reports to House leadership; opponents cite privacy and separation-of-powers concerns",893,4573000,5466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a&start=4573&end=5466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a/thumbnail_4573000.jpg","/articles/6353464/Montana/Senate-approves-bill-to-send-completed-judicial-investigation-reports-to-House-leadership-opponents-cite-privacy-and-separation-of-powers-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353464-5c5d24b581fcbc09978a6d3bea6d45f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193634&Signature=mJrq-6NzBfD694eLtHo33ckDSjPeTj-tJW9rcO66kNKn2-7FA6Ookzx8bYAfJDVOF4fWacPuAXQAyKeM7h0LpHqS2ZBp5GairPPVT-16NJ3lwr~nxQ915PiTadmtIkuGR-GpBhjcf9R-S3RPvop1pr6erE8J-crenjagFThRrGOkoUCSfs1DSkLzl3cll1EjiDjvC1b4-Jmr6KfgPHMqBvTAyahq0TTD7guvUPO5JC29zRFiHS3V3iANIIIQ3O8N3wxbSALBAr4PNlU6YEuAc90W0JI3pvh1xMZ-VDNnwEyT1s4~c3yp4pN3r45H6TETwpPIXCn7FzVKMEzTdJ~UMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 158, introduced by Senator Ammerich, advanced on second reading in the Committee of the Whole by a 28-22 vote. The bill would require the Judicial Standards Commission (JSC) to forward completed reports and any evidence from investigations of a judicial officer to the Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives; the House would adopt rules governing receipt, confidentiality, and any release, and reports could be made public only when used in impeachment proceedings.

Sponsor Ammerich described the bill as a narrow measure to ensure the legislature is not left \"in the dark\" when potential judicial impropriety remains unaddressed and said the House would be required to keep the materials confidential except in impeachment contexts. \"All this seeks to do is make sure that all of these reports are forwarded to the speaker of the house, just to make sure that if there is any evidence of impropriety that the court has not already dealt with, that we can deal with it in a manner, pursuant to our constitution,\" Ammerich said.

Opponents warned the bill risks politicizing judicial discipline and undermining judicial independence. Senator Morgeau said the measure \"creates two investigative processes\" and injects partisan influence by giving a political body access to investigative materials. Several senators raised privacy concerns for parties involved in cases and argued the existing JSC process protects due process and judicial independence.

Questions during debate focused on confidentiality language and who within the House would receive materials; the sponsor said the bill intentionally defers procedural rules to the House so the chamber can adopt its own confidentiality protocols.

The clerk recorded 28 ayes and 22 nays. The committee reported SB 158 do pass on second reading.","Senate Bill 158 passed second reading, 28-22. The bill would require the Judicial Standards Commission to forward completed investigation reports and evidence to the House of Representatives; the House would determine procedure and confidentiality rules for handling such reports, and release would be limited to impeachment proceedings.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353469,"Senators approve tow-company lien clarification after amendment protecting some personal property",303,3609000,3912000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a&start=3609&end=3912","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a/thumbnail_3609000.jpg","/articles/6353469/Montana/Senators-approve-tow-company-lien-clarification-after-amendment-protecting-some-personal-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353469-a2718d9782c937459a15caee1ede8064/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193634&Signature=F-Q-BFd~NBwNDhF-~si-UsMSlSsPjR8bdfOlI~LapU3t7Y2G0DMO48vdfpuNY3Rzpgez4aTOP7Jf6osG67boE8q6RSllFy4u6dJgtGxEY-c7oyacwRwXY3M1LK32DRJcW8YhYCyy36Y-zuU48YdLFYsTpYbV2txfJ5OwtCHNsVw8rsh-VBMvoX2PwfbQ7NAsm6-vVMV9LhBtUn-h~HZeTZ2EAWh~z0Qzc6~rn6rIzihUofmOp1gseeAZUXIvKO66l9jnEEAFpPWG6GMCXDo2BZEi5stB7zFYHW2AYxkhY1U-nPEWesJhptjIcP1bWH8X62aLP1px56ZsOrlh5owXsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 113, described by its sponsor as a code cleanup to clarify what motor-vehicle towing and storage lienholders may and may not seize, passed the Committee of the Whole as amended on second reading.

The committee adopted an amendment offered by Senator Weber that narrows the lien treatment for \"personal property that is in a motor vehicle belonging to the uninsured or underinsured person or for which the insurance claim was not filed.\" Weber said the change responds to concerns about high-dollar commercial tows and clarifies protections for personal items in passenger cars; the amendment sponsor described it as resolving disputes over unpaid cleanup costs after commercial wrecks while protecting personal belongings.

Senator Yakovich, the bill sponsor, said the measure simply clarifies what items a tow company may hold to recoup expenses and noted a high rate of unpaid tow bills. Supporters called the bill targeted and urged passage; several senators praised the amendment as a fix that balanced tow-company payment and consumer protections.

The clerk recorded the amendment vote as 46 ayes and 4 nays; the committee later recorded final passage of SB 113 as amended, 49 ayes and 1 nay. The committee report lists SB 113 as passing as amended on second reading.","Senate Bill 113, a tow-truck lien cleanup bill, passed the Committee of the Whole as amended. An amendment clarified treatment of personal property for uninsured or underinsured vehicles; amendment passed and the bill passed final committee vote 49-1.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353475,"Senate panel bars use of state funds to buy opioid reversal drugs from companies tied to opioid litigation",509,2717000,3226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a&start=2717&end=3226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221271-f1140cfee5c0c6375d48a0207910317a/thumbnail_2717000.jpg","/articles/6353475/Montana/Senate-panel-bars-use-of-state-funds-to-buy-opioid-reversal-drugs-from-companies-tied-to-opioid-litigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353475-54d70322ece9f2ebe5ace6d5d848a06a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193634&Signature=jeFCP-GiTFUkUa~60Cwwd6qwuQDjZS90DSpEsX1BNPX7WkilhnjdC1mQKaVc2MnEnpZ6Y66HCoooF1-X1nrtVsJJNDRNwRDOI8LadUT06JA9V9jRfNF~odgZeqpVWS5NwcjKBiKdZJ0orCTGdoZpoTEZWGLL18qNd2UXxVVof0OxZXacNIEVWbKlyhEv1EzzrsP25ArRW~Fu7pEQg5qZMkCdda42LIweRlVUdNT-LhhQNfyjpWWxEFSZM5DlV7s4kmTAYbHdvA9oNHRv1-ARXlwdDDW9ztMBz47KRbPq~8yon7lHfUnWWWB06hfOJSlardLuxyD9iKDVg0Qq68ovww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 112, carried by Senator Yakovich, passed the Committee of the Whole on second reading by a 49-1 vote, prohibiting state funds (and available federal funds except as provided) from being used after June 30, 2025, to purchase opioid antagonists from a manufacturer or an affiliate that was a party to settlements or litigation tied to the opioid crisis.

Sponsor Yakovich said the bill aimed to avoid \"paying the arsonist to put out his own fire,\" arguing the state should buy naloxone or similar products from manufacturers that did not profit from fueling the opioid epidemic. \"All I'm asking is that our state not buy from those who caused the opioid crisis,\" Yakovich said, noting existing supply and that the change would not affect ongoing lawsuits or existing contracts.

Opponents raised concerns about supply continuity and unintended consequences for access to reversal drugs. Senator Ellsworth asked whether the statute could leave gaps if supplies or sources change; Yakovich and supporters said they had consulted the Department of Justice and testimony indicated alternate suppliers and distribution methods (including vending machines and other procurement routes) would be available.

Senator Newman, who works on opioid addiction and recovery issues, supported the bill and said testimony confirmed a sufficient supply of alternatives. \"I like Senator Yakovich's analogy of, hiring an arsonist to put out a fire,\" Newman said, and urged colleagues to support the bill.

The clerk recorded 49 ayes and 1 nay. The committee reported SB 112 do pass on second reading.","Senators voted to prohibit state funds and certain contracts from being used to purchase opioid antagonists from manufacturers that were party to the opioid crisis, arguing the state should not reward firms that helped cause opioid harms. The measure passed 49-1 on second reading.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate advances bill widening endangerment statute to cover certain treatments for under-16s

Committee of the Whole advances a package of bills on second reading; several pass with minimal debate

Senate approves bill to send completed judicial-investigation reports to House leadership; opponents cite privacy and separation-of-powers concerns

Senators approve tow-company lien clarification after amendment protecting some personal property

Senate panel bars use of state funds to buy opioid reversal drugs from companies tied to opioid litigation