[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6302917,"mediaKeyId","2475822-d3a46028bd17ed6221968f6f0827ac61","parentId",2475822,"title","Panel advances bill to set zero THC tolerance for drivers under 21 amid debate over tests and medical cards","audioSeconds",886,"startMs",1260000,"endMs",2146000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2475822-d3a46028bd17ed6221968f6f0827ac61&start=1260&end=2146","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2475822-d3a46028bd17ed6221968f6f0827ac61/thumbnail_1260000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6302917/Montana/Panel-advances-bill-to-set-zero-THC-tolerance-for-drivers-under-21-amid-debate-over-tests-and-medical-cards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302917-775509e36d9b979903135d35a7e77867/orig.mp4?Expires=1771059559&Signature=Z8ycmAA9d4J7TjOejyZqENBkJ7FjC299OfeMwSOHRqBECTgRJzWdq8swJbdpTK087vQDY7nqR8EgtVMvikLS~P87w7GwrBs0DOVumv8xJ8tLvXgLo9mi1ftMJyfdZDGJcLOsVOhPew2n8eFVweHbqEHVsIQpf~mqJ1gEOiJ~HGdHCcIj8CvUgH0JwRMvkpk0FQvS8j~FvxJVqsXZaMtmFCau3USaHiLTsO9pe1jxDckMDfTzUm1u1o8786fiUFwwZO5AwmuyelnLb5pky2fxkQEe5RY2OeGFiF6F3hP-w5zagHeHs3dAVc012zmuijJ-z1VWRWp2tKkbRN8~6JEBng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","article","Sen. Willis Curti, R-Missoula, introduced Senate Bill 508, which would set the allowable level of THC in the blood of drivers under 21 at zero. \"So basically it puts the limit for having THC in your blood for somebody who's under 21 years of age at none,\" Curti said when he opened the hearing.

Proponents included Colonel Kurt Sager of the Montana Highway Patrol, who said the patrol supports the bill and presented recent data showing increases in THC involvement in impaired-driving metrics from 2020 to 2023: a 6.23 percent rise in DUIs involving THC, a 16.54 percent increase in crashes with THC involved, a 51.16 percent increase in fatal crashes involving THC, and a 100 percent increase in THC-only fatalities. \"The alarming rate that we're seeing THC increase in driving needs to be addressed,\" he said, and urged the committee to pass the bill.

Nanette Gilbertson, representing both the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and the Montana County Attorneys Association, testified in support and described the bill as a tool to shape young drivers' behavior: \"We want to create a culture in our young drivers that driving high is driving under the influence and there's a 0 tolerance policy,\" she said.

Don Cape, representing the Coalition for Safety and Justice, opposed the bill and warned of scientific and fairness problems with a strict zero-tolerance standard and the bill's language on \"blood or other bodily substance.\" He said THC metabolites can persist long after impairment ends and that the bill \"creates some issues\" for medical-card holders who may legally use cannabis but not be impaired. \"This is fraught; it will become a nightmare of appeals,\" Cape said.

Colonel Sager and other witnesses clarified technical points at the committee's request. Sager said the bill focuses on psychoactive delta-9 THC and that current testing options covered by statute include blood and oral fluid; he explained the detection window for psychoactive THC is short and not the same as the longer-lasting carboxy metabolites opponents referenced.

After debate, a committee member moved a do-pass recommendation for SB 508. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote and the committee advanced the bill to the next stage.

Ending: Sponsors and law-enforcement proponents argued the bill would prevent young drivers from developing risky habits and would give prosecutors and police a clearer statutory standard; opponents asked lawmakers to reconsider the types of biological samples covered and the bill's impact on medical cannabis patients.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Highways and Transportation Mar 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Sen. Willis Curti's Senate Bill 508 would make any measurable THC in a driver under 21 a per se violation; law enforcement and county attorneys supported the bill citing rising THC involvement in crashes, while opponents warned testing can detect non-impairing metabolites and could criminalize medical users.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6302922,"Senator Novak proposes option for weekly county DMV service and aligns law to allow 15-year-old licenses",0,2438000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2475822-d3a46028bd17ed6221968f6f0827ac61&start=2438&end=2438","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2475822-d3a46028bd17ed6221968f6f0827ac61/thumbnail_2438000.jpg","/articles/6302922/Montana/Senator-Novak-proposes-option-for-weekly-county-DMV-service-and-aligns-law-to-allow-15-year-old-licenses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302922-abf1cd2e4562e5eac3f234d28f5d0e07/orig.mp4?Expires=1771059559&Signature=bnX~W46tUrY6znBjuuOidTqR0xylTeqy~6qipiYCvyB56bko7oUQbAbHhudcgEEWKVa2pBLowA3kNXYk60vA66m2BrkBVIuy64dX-MGzLxRAwnC~9vXfM4MPRjff86g2MrtXF-F7Cgh7M~yb3Iy1ygDWL0CWVdMIlOpP2wVGUWrIjYjQJlDFU1aKXA7hjku0~MleC7f6aYU3~3F35AkgcI1be1Y-NStx2gTRvwSF6YvdJuvyjj1PXCiFd29sYqu78weWyqG8aKcYDqeWW5ddIXsHg5xeymkuIyhC8F2YMp1tPi~CunvP7Br8vGoZrvRkCQHxDKj4iDT~7qhH5aJ6Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Sarah Novak, D-Anaconda, told the committee that Senate Bill 462 would give each of Montana's 56 counties the option to host at least one day a week of Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) services and would revise Montana Code Annotated so the statutory driving age matches current practice that allows some 15-year-olds to obtain licenses under graduated licensing rules.

Novak said the bill is intended to ensure rural counties are not \"forgotten\" when state services are scheduled, while avoiding an unfunded mandate: \"I just want the counties and the state to collaborate together,\" she said. She told the committee she seeks alignment between policy and statute: \"I just think it's really really important that as a state whatever our policies and procedures are really should align with Montana Code Annotated.\"

The bill would (1) give counties the option to provide at least one day a week of DMV service, and (2) change statutory language that currently sets the non-driver's-ed licensing age at 16 so it matches the longer-standing emergency rule and DMV practice that allow some 15-year-olds to access testing under the graduated driver's license (GDL) framework. Novak described the GDL safeguards: a learner permit must be held a minimum of six months, a new driver must log 50 hours of supervised driving (with at least 10 at night), and certain infractions restart the learner period. She said the permit is currently valid for one year and the staggered steps lead to a full unrestricted license after the final step or when the person turns 18.

Laurie Bakri, Motor Vehicle Division administrator, said the division supports the policy goal but warned of resource limits and costs to expand exam stations: \"We just don't have the resources to fund that,\" she said, and added there are nine counties without an exam station, naming Anaconda as one example. Bakri told the committee there is a fiscal note on the topic and estimated costs \"over half a million dollars.\" Charlie Brown, representing the Montana Traffic Ed Association, said his group is \"very soft\" in opposition to lowering the age and worries the change could put younger drivers on the road sooner without drivers education.

Committee members asked whether the 15-year practice originated as a COVID hardship rule. Bakri said a hardship pathway was created during the pandemic when students could not get into driver's education programs and that the state has continued permitting 15-year-olds in hardship situations. Novak said she wants statute to reflect that practice rather than leave it only to emergency policy.

The committee later considered a motion on SB 462. A roll-call produced a 4-4 tie, after which the committee tabled the bill without further action. The fiscal note Novak said she had not yet seen remained an open item for review.

Ending: Novak asked the committee for a due pass and offered to coordinate with other legislators on overlapping bills if the committee prefers to reconcile language before floor action.","Sen. Sarah Novak testified for Senate Bill 462 to give Montana counties the option of one day a week of local DMV service and to change statute so 15-year-olds may obtain a driver’s license under the state's existing graduated licensing rules; the committee later tabled the bill after a tied roll-call vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Panel advances bill to set zero THC tolerance for drivers under 21 amid debate over tests and medical cards

Senator Novak proposes option for weekly county DMV service and aligns law to allow 15-year-old licenses