[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6126960,"mediaKeyId","2665173-bd0ec527a0ad8ba57f7284868345bca2","parentId",2665173,"title","Committee hears bill to refocus traumatic brain injury fund and add $1 opt-out vehicle donation","audioSeconds",2611,"startMs",2611000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665173-bd0ec527a0ad8ba57f7284868345bca2&start=2611&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665173-bd0ec527a0ad8ba57f7284868345bca2/thumbnail_2611000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6126960/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-refocus-traumatic-brain-injury-fund-and-add-1-opt-out-vehicle-donation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126960-1bdbc6205ca8fa051b3d2128679393e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185868&Signature=CG2N70XeCYATEZ0sJFK~QqZliIODsT1Vq65OLacLY3YVavV8t92NHnIQQJXlcq1Qf3YhkP2dce4wNuxuwSlUfn-eTd35pWNfO8W2mqJHYmuA~7X7n10WGsZF-Ms~M5bUGVzxcKIKAc4qQ05cKnTB80wBZUwRAggjD-RvlGJv08RQEKTPnDRZ1DgXw3ktXjpgnqiIh2p--OZ64zFNYHLrrPzENqX9qYb3KQI64T1lz5QkUxKdxjSjHGdl9FLxhtEf0aaiTxLu~-FjzpFEqYYvazSOlFUl-IO3KGvCnxg5HfEWwEvrq~3brhbXFHQXXxEmldVTRtP-I~16WVV~dNJTCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Ed Buttry introduced House Bill 341, which would broaden the allowable uses of Montana's traumatic brain injury special revenue account and create a $1 opt-out donation on motor vehicle registrations to provide a recurring funding stream. \"This is a bill that changes the focus of the work that the state does in supporting those with TBI and also provides for an ongoing funding source outside of the general fund,\" Representative Ed Buttry said in opening testimony.

Under the bill text described at the hearing, funds currently limited to public information and prevention would be allowed to support direct services for individuals and families living with traumatic brain injury, while continuing prevention and advisory council funding. The proposal also requires county treasurers to post prominent notices that vehicle registrants may opt out of the $1 donation.

Proponents included Ability Montana, the Brain Injury Alliance of Montana, health-care and advocacy groups, survivors and family members. John Bigart, executive director of the Brain Injury Alliance of Montana, told the committee Montana has a high rate of TBI and currently lacks state-funded supports. \"Montana has 1 of the highest rates of traumatic brain injury in the nation, but we're 1 of 3 states in the nation that provide no state funded TBI support,\" Bigart said, urging a yes vote.

Abigail St. Lawrence, who testified remotely and whose experience inspired the bill, said state support for education, recovery and family assistance is essential. \"How to address a TBI and finally how to live with a TBI is very important,\" she said.

The bill includes an initial appropriation of $600,000 from the existing traumatic brain injury special revenue account to the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to begin program work. Proponents said the appropriation would allow DPHHS and partners to start grantmaking and service development while the opt-out donation begins to generate revenue.

Committee members asked detailed fiscal questions. Senator Logie asked whether grants would be available once funds accumulate; Representative Buttry said he expected future legislatures could appropriate money from the account for grants and that the appropriation is intended to \"get to work\" immediately. But the sponsor and committee discussed a technical concern in the fiscal note: whether additional spending from the special revenue account beyond the $600,000 appropriation would require separate legislative appropriation. \"The 600,000 we're saying... put it to work. The rest of the money over time that goes into that TBI account to me should be able to be used by the state for the purposes listed,\" Buttry said; he acknowledged the fiscal note frames that question differently and said the committee and state budget staff may need to resolve that point.

DPHHS provided informational testimony and committee members asked about program design, eligibility, and how the account would interface with Medicaid and federal matching funds. Proponents argued that state funding would unlock federal grants and make services more widely available.

The hearing closed with the sponsor asking for a do-pass; no committee vote was taken at the hearing.

Ending: The committee will consider the bill further; testimony highlighted an initial appropriation, recurring opt-out revenue, and a fiscal-note question about spending authority that the sponsor and staff said would be clarified before final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Highways and Transportation Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Ed Buttry introduced House Bill 341 to expand uses of the traumatic brain injury special revenue account and create a $1 opt-out vehicle registration donation to fund supports for individuals and families.","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},6126966,"Bill would remove statutory requirement for named divisions in Montana Department of Transportation",770,1566000,2336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665173-bd0ec527a0ad8ba57f7284868345bca2&start=1566&end=2336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665173-bd0ec527a0ad8ba57f7284868345bca2/thumbnail_1566000.jpg","/articles/6126966/Montana/Bill-would-remove-statutory-requirement-for-named-divisions-in-Montana-Department-of-Transportation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126966-9bc40823b670b6186635e9a81ec629fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185868&Signature=eo7qsPYwVwoIrLoGefhrhO-J4yMHBcKNxQm~BCYcDyGv7aWQwf39WoWMU3k1rHMlfjfDRo1Zn1wg6Z2a8Q6hoknRNjMvU6Ym7FbMHbpe79J~dibQ5CceKfBUw1hHb7Vmu3gtnGQ6AUwy06v7WnxaKS6Wr43IVRQ42CMGnvZDHp7-qgrOY50PUyoDiTTN0bFDHUb-GR1~qhtC6aLBpSVYL-qKy7P6xQtWlXe-~yDQYHcBIDSaJEgf9-opu3BtThOjI8d2JPlSE983vneQltyPPkWjhzFWz90~nwF2D95WD0kJiBPne1p8xkppt-CKgZa1v2Akc4KF7poEM2WwtkNKCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Julie Darling introduced House Bill 487 to remove statutory language that requires the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to include specific divisions — highways, aeronautics, administration, rail and transit, and motor carrier services — in state law. \"Quite simply, this bill is eliminating the requirement that the department... have certain divisions,\" Representative Julie Darling said in opening remarks.

Chris Dorrington, director of the Department of Transportation, and Deputy Director Larry Flynn testified in support. Flynn noted the current statute only names divisions but does not define their duties, which are set elsewhere in titles of the Montana Code. \"These 5 divisions are not defined in statute anywhere. They are only named,\" Flynn said, adding that duties and funding sources remain defined in other statutes and the bill would not change that.

Dorrington told senators the change is intended to make the agency easier for the public and stakeholders to navigate and to allow the department to organize internally as needs evolve. \"I don't want that named in statute. So I want the names out and then we can name something very logically in our executive on the executive side just like every other agency has,\" Dorrington said.

Committee members asked how the department would reassign functions, whether staff could lose jobs or be demoted, and how the change would affect relationships with federal modal agencies and federal funding restrictions. Dorrington said the department has a plan and emphasized the change would not permit moving restricted funds across funding categories. \"I can't take highways dollars and put it in airports,\" he said, explaining federal and state restrictions on categorical funding.

Several senators expressed support for treating MDT the same as other cabinet agencies while asking for assurances about staff impacts and a public communications plan. Dorrington said no jobs would be lost as a result of the reorganization and that details would be shared with committee staff as plans are finalized.

The committee took testimony and asked questions; no vote was taken at the hearing.

Ending: The hearing closed after committee questions and sponsor remarks; DOT said it will provide further information as reorganization plans firm up.","House Bill 487 would delete statutory language that mandates five named divisions in the Montana Department of Transportation, giving the agency flexibility to reorganize; DOT leaders said duties and funding rules would not change, and senators questioned implementation detail and staffing safeguards.",{"_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},6126972,"Senate committee hears proposal for statewide public-transit interim study",1416,119000,1535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665173-bd0ec527a0ad8ba57f7284868345bca2&start=119&end=1535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665173-bd0ec527a0ad8ba57f7284868345bca2/thumbnail_119000.jpg","/articles/6126972/Montana/Senate-committee-hears-proposal-for-statewide-public-transit-interim-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126972-432402d5cf3b6d72cfa3a70e952bc3c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185868&Signature=mfwUuhALocUqHECfmDGggnIYyrr2PF7XmuIbQBvTapQdwdIkIe1mkHMOKZFqzZXEZcRrKXWxj1hLgGDcOIK6q2DsVv4nsls3J~XxeNds07-uZ-hMiCYhM5frqzYmzi8Hupwx58SoKm~Y~X9ILRe~912OV0MXoQtOy4yuGOOeB1zVEqcU2h4DJVVm0x6qccxQ2EBpL9eR7177k3wRFJ0~LZikPumq~4OfAUPmACYFtopV7K-pS~IhCZkIGxVsodo-Z4PCQk354D4QaLdiF5iX9zbX~U6Js-9syebM7B3XrKrCqgIhPdhKB~Os9plynj4oTmSoEwRduYPYNVqKVx78zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Andrea Olsen, sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 19, told the Senate Transportation Committee she brought the resolution to request an interim study of public transportation across Montana \"on behalf of all the people in Montana who wanna be able to get from 1 place to another reliably.\" The hearing drew rural residents, transit operators and state transportation officials who described gaps in services and local efforts to fill them.

The study would examine transit options and funding statewide, Olson said, and aim to address safety and access for people who cannot or do not drive. \"This is whether you have a car or not by the way, I believe,\" Senator Andrea Olsen said in her opening remarks.

Proponents emphasized that lack of transit limits access to medical care and daily needs in rural communities. Jasmine Krotkov, a resident who testified that her mountain town sits about 60 miles from essential services, said long-distance travel options disappeared over decades and that rail and bus ties once supported communities. \"I would love to ride the train to town for groceries, especially in winter,\" Krotkov said, describing how the loss of service reduced her town's population from about 2,000 to roughly 35.

Cassie Wick of Ability Montana, which serves 14 counties in southwest Montana, said access to transportation is essential for medical appointments and independent living. \"Access to transportation is a fundamental need for many Montanans especially those who are relying on it for medical care,\" Wick said, noting that many rural residents must travel to Missoula, Helena, Bozeman or Billings for specialty care and lack reliable options.

Other proponents described local programs that have filled gaps. Representatives noted that Whitehall operates Liberty Place Transportation vans and Deer Lodge uses aging-network drivers for local and intercity trips; the Missoula Urban Transportation District's Mountain Line (founded 1976) and Gallatin County's Streamline service (operated by HRDC since 2006) were cited as longer-running examples.

Chris Dorrington, director of the Montana Department of Transportation, appeared as an informational witness and told senators the department has commissioned multiple rural transit studies and a longer-range Amtrak/Empire Builder service study. \"We do have quite a few studies that we just recently commissioned and I'd be happy to share with the committee more details, probably via staff,\" Dorrington said. He also confirmed the department tracks traffic volumes and airport enplanements and that some planned studies address community-to-community transit.

Committee members asked about existing work and how tourism versus local travel is tracked, and Dorrington advised that local service providers and the Department of Commerce collect complementary data. Senators also noted the connections between housing availability and longer commutes, saying transit and housing policy are linked.

The hearing closed with Senator Olsen urging that the state participate in local efforts and federal funding opportunities to strengthen rural transit options. No committee action or vote was recorded at the hearing.

Ending: The committee concluded the SJ 19 hearing and moved on to other bills on the agenda.","Sen. Andrea Olsen introduced Senate Joint Resolution 19 seeking an interim study of public transportation across Montana. Proponents described gaps in rural transit, medical-access constraints, and local pilot successes; Department of Transportation officials said several studies are already under way.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to refocus traumatic brain injury fund and add $1 opt-out vehicle donation

Bill would remove statutory requirement for named divisions in Montana Department of Transportation

Senate committee hears proposal for statewide public-transit interim study