[{"_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",6622378,"mediaKeyId","2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3","parentId",2784556,"title","Votes at a glance: Selected Montana Senate actions from the March legislative day","audioSeconds",212,"startMs",4164000,"endMs",4376000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3&start=4164&end=4376","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3/thumbnail_4164000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622378/Montana/Votes-at-a-glance-Selected-Montana-Senate-actions-from-the-March-legislative-day","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622378-5db5f6a2ff6b1893b8cadeb149c0a3fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776391968&Signature=ArQ4A5rnW-f81tMuXQvo-~NfsunHsU7W8YPSdKsceDQrWL0USx2rCilLhmAntA02TAkSidrmv4pLCbXEo6yx9mc7myy4v-tbPP~SK9KjEtePEz6fUnSowLtJwBDg8MEoXAL9Xm~mvYarDPp~0vSwAZiGwnhsnPjL~XOHcGzrkuegvoJ2dGqr~hnUh9sO1aR7x3cUoCWBCAAB3U5g~4P6J3MrIw28EGKPTtcSXqfharNgVZdafzWK29YPlhPo0DkIiyYv7jPRm42X1XxAwijqZaENeN54wxDda22AIkemtla7pJV5hdoduZvrwQxwSii8mcgMIPu4BylndNT~TIN4Bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","This session day’s transcript records multiple recorded votes on second and third readings. Below are selected items and outcomes as recorded on the Senate floor. Where the transcript did not provide a numeric tally for an item, the outcome is reported as stated in the record.

- Senate Bill 301: Passed as amended in committee and by the Senate (amendment adopted 50‑0; bill passed 50‑0 on second reading, as recorded in the transcript).

- House Bill 59: Concurred in on second reading (committee recommended concurrence after amendment; final recorded concurrence vote 50‑0; amendment passed 35‑13 earlier in the discussion).

- House Bill 135 (statute of repose for appraisers): Committee recommended concurrence; recorded committee vote 43‑7 to concur in second reading as reported in the committee tally.

- House Bill 143 (treating physician/PAs): Concurred in on second reading, recorded vote 44‑6.

- House Bill 173 (youth court victim definition): Committee recommended concurrence; the Senate concurred on second reading as recorded in the transcript (vote tally not specified in every line but reflected as concurred in the transcript).

- House Bill 178 (government use of AI): Committee recommended concurrence; concurrence recorded 46‑4.

- House Bill 179 (inactive voters / petition signing): Concurred in on second reading, recorded vote 50‑0.

- Senate Bill 319 (doulas / health care laws): Passed third reading, recorded vote 31‑19.

- House Bill 92 (alcohol regulation revisions): Passed third reading, recorded as passed with 50‑0 in the transcript.

- House Bill 165 (notary not required for vehicle title transfer): Passed third reading, recorded vote 37‑13.

- House Bill 235 (voluntary cancellation/suspension of vehicle registration): Passed third reading, recorded vote 48‑2.

- House Bill 223 (motor vehicle insurance coverage for tow recovery): Failed to be concurred in on second reading (15‑33) and subsequently was indefinitely postponed by the Senate (43‑6).

Note: The transcript also lists additional bills that were moved by the committee and adopted as part of the committee report later in the day. For several items the audio transcript records the outcome (\"concurred in\" or \"passed\") without giving a numeric roll call at every instance; when a tally was given in the transcript that tally is reported above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session - Mar 26, 2025 13:00 - 15:00","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of votes and outcomes for multiple bills taken during the recorded Senate session, including several third‑reading approvals and committee concurrence actions recorded in the transcript.","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},6622384,"Senate rejects bill requiring insurers to cover commercial towing cleanup costs; later indefinitely postpones it",445,3240000,3685000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3&start=3240&end=3685","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3/thumbnail_3240000.jpg","/articles/6622384/Montana/Senate-rejects-bill-requiring-insurers-to-cover-commercial-towing-cleanup-costs-later-indefinitely-postpones-it","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622384-1e3f8d1e28455f67aca96584e0ef909b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776391968&Signature=I0o78DJTBu1ZZXXHnSzZuTIq1Xa1B7YoJFDBfHQFRJ4JAAX0LEAzIPSWvVqgeTC~pRhwI-6ixOILM8IbHTBLE2mUqusoCVtzXxLkc-TFljo-43HHlMGwGn~Obq3SXGOQ9YmPRF3lUGAg6nkENEI4Vu-jHw8r~oeFVxaW7IPPA0G~GECCkrTeRrjiAqKRPs0MzSMnw8yES1KRibaADjr2bGKz1dfeyf~e7B7AUPhu41AThPz8urPpYb0bNY6nyVdf9m2tV2ikeWbr3FCvj7jxbRDk~h96mZP1p6fxUbx2p6dmJ9euWLk1nLmMqdC2nnADl89ucUKsPdzSYk66zm3cRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate did not concur in House Bill 223 after an extended floor discussion about insurance mandates and statutory phrasing; senators later voted to indefinitely postpone the measure.

Senator Dunwall introduced the bill as a “cleanup” measure that would require motor vehicle insurance policies to cover reasonable costs for commercial tow operators, including debris cleanup after crashes. He said tow operators sometimes bear large cleanup costs and asked senators to \"throw them a few bucks.\"

Opponents warned the bill would operate as an insurance mandate and could raise premiums. Majority Leader McGillivray argued that adding mandates increases costs for policyholders. Senator Wilson said the bill’s wording could create confusion by adding new statutory liabilities beyond policy coverage and noted that much towing coverage already exists through separate products or policy limits.

On second reading the bill failed to be concurred in on a recorded vote of 15‑33. Later on the floor Senator McGillivray moved to indefinitely postpone the bill; that motion carried on a recorded vote of 43‑6.

Ending: The transcript shows the core dispute centered on whether requiring insurers to pay commercial tow and cleanup costs is a necessary consumer protection for small businesses or an unwanted insurance mandate with potential premium impacts.","House Bill 223, which would have required motor vehicle insurance to cover reasonable cleanup and recovery costs for commercial tow truck operators, failed on second reading and was later indefinitely postponed following floor debate about insurance mandates and statutory language.",{"_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},6622389,"Senate concurs in bill allowing physician assistants to serve as treating physicians in workers' comp claims",587,1802000,2389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3&start=1802&end=2389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3/thumbnail_1802000.jpg","/articles/6622389/Montana/Senate-concurs-in-bill-allowing-physician-assistants-to-serve-as-treating-physicians-in-workers-comp-claims","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622389-d7ebb01d1c0ae4005a13aebcb03a5f4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776391968&Signature=B8QCYtSAp1FoAody0Ej2hEz8qnKCW1u~QXd5W-LdFsVYhB6DeQsO1hBhWBn-lEecFX08rQSqRMcvGKSctrEfhWO8z5vQ8f3JicAkdrXWTaRJ9HIaWkkb8GpLHelHUDMyhjRNSMwLWBDCtbt~kJTAJHUIRGTpvioZ2RtQ0AffYsuP6tggtjfw-hQCrAuiVGMa8FgoEtfd6sYfdSQsvDJFG9YJzqNNIfQ0Vwncn81FKv8Khi8YGtzJ9TPHrjrUOhi7E7RUFBPASQ4Ca9cSRHvN4a4iPLcbf3ihfoyRcIPCE6gLNTIamBMf3icoBJ5KYzy8a1hcivlIfc2acqZkoc5Nvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate concurred in House Bill 143 after floor debate focused on the scope of physician assistant practice and prescribing authority.

Senator Lehi introduced the bill as a cleanup to last session’s changes on independent practice for physician assistants, saying the measure \"allows licensed physician assistants to serve as treating physicians in workers compensation claims regardless of the presence of another provider in the local area.\" He explained that without a treating physician a claim cannot advance and an injured worker’s medical treatment can be delayed.

Senators queried what functions physician assistants already perform and whether they can write prescriptions. In response, a floor participant identified in the transcript as Carrier confirmed PAs can prescribe and noted supervisory and experience rules discussed later by Senator Hertz: PAs with fewer than 8,000 hours must have a supervision agreement on file with the Board of Medical Examiners, and controlled substance prescribing has statutory limits that were described on the floor.

Senator Hertz and others emphasized statutory supervision and prescribing limits while sponsor supporters said the bill expands access to treating physicians in the workers' compensation system. The Senate concurred in House Bill 143 on a recorded vote of 44‑6.

Ending: The bill narrowly changes who may be designated a treating physician in workers' compensation claims; the transcript shows the floor debate centered on existing PA authority and statutory supervision requirements rather than creating new prescribing privileges.","The Senate concurred in House Bill 143, which expands the definition of treating physician under the Montana Workers' Compensation Act to allow physician assistants to serve in that role, sparking questions about PA training and prescribing authority.",{"_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},6622394,"Senate concurs in changes to water-well contractor rules; amendment sets log‑submission timeline",95,1156000,1251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3&start=1156&end=1251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3/thumbnail_1156000.jpg","/articles/6622394/Montana/Senate-concurs-in-changes-to-water-well-contractor-rules-amendment-sets-logsubmission-timeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622394-b0e38eb335462925fdf94b3b3602418c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776391968&Signature=axT~~dXTpKFIeyhYd~S32zKxCH8saqjHa7READTXz52FAdpR0az08AfRTHAA4Nh1SoUKVNS82T0-HoA8cSDnvw2W14u4zH5KqeE6wLaYVSmAdmvotoTqN7~g8WTu9ysraiS3A8MOUsGiMhDEVkqYJZqgKLSMWpraIRINqAErsv~ZgoX9Naoi8LktlvwsnC6rOr3toFt4B4QL1V~9zkV3Yi18eEdTICSx4JwH4gOKzSyLMQWqc38OxW7uANGf09YLEz4Z67cbzDltSphWCFbto7fi-GDycB-LJyOLj3k7E1Ung05xxYLQEMsqv1-dYUCjiQsD2VNUn6vwamk8Fyj~ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate agreed to concur in House Bill 59 and adopted a floor amendment that sets explicit timelines for water-well contractors to deliver log books to the state bureau.

Senator Galt, who moved the amendment HB0059.002.001, told senators the change \"clarifies that the well contractors have 60 days to get their log books into the bureau\" and adds a 30‑day period after that for the contractor to consult the Board of Water Well Drillers. Galt said there are no automatic fines in the amendment and that enforcement is left to the board.

Several senators questioned whether the amendment performed committee work on the floor because the change had not been presented in committee. Senator Mandeville asked whether the amendment had been considered previously; Galt said it had not, explaining the bill moved quickly through committee and some details were missed.

Senator McCain praised the change: \"I like this amendment a lot. It is...a good amendment to help ensure water logs are accurate and the department has connectivity.\" After floor debate the amendment passed on a recorded vote of 35‑13. The committee motion recommending concurrence in House Bill 59 then passed on a recorded vote of 50‑0.

The amendment’s principal effects are procedural: it consolidates time frames and administrative recipients for log submissions into statute where some parts previously existed in rule. The transcript records that enforcement choices (including whether to impose fines) remain within the board’s discretion.","The Senate concurred in House Bill 59 after adopting an amendment that clarifies water-well contractors must submit log books within set windows and gives the board a 30‑day opportunity to review late submissions.",{"_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},6622399,"Senate approves bill to accelerate electric transmission projects with added PSC oversight",171,736000,907000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3&start=736&end=907","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784556-a477d5e4718f6f9bb02ec0fd6f35e3b3/thumbnail_736000.jpg","/articles/6622399/Montana/Senate-approves-bill-to-accelerate-electric-transmission-projects-with-added-PSC-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622399-3b7b2e88f54139e1408c0fdfeedd1e47/orig.mp4?Expires=1776391968&Signature=ZD5tq-iqsX4AiW87CEbi0HBb4QMegGBHipXTH1Dx~TeNBQ7ZPRKzEmJ17SjLqcNwB9hnMI45JmEwbfP9pj7VqDzgCAwIQCd5iFnuqIqsiRCIyDcl4YmnEM3FFGWhluY~im8De7NJVPu7IgGD-5Msflqik7XfNblnL6JBWEiIgTQt~kFWFMuddeA2Je~UOq~zaIeYc796lHYsLfm~RkaSE1VrAjf3L42rlEPgUSvhwifkSwbPNXVIIdulErNGi8CuWlcaNcVj7HrbW9UE5m4m-MLCEmSFev8Q5pGzLpqLDcR4P0FbrlKtfOGvE9oEugDXBrHIAxdgBTTotuUTLceIcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators on the floor approved Senate Bill 301 after adopting an amendment that expands the Public Service Commission’s authority to review project costs.

Senator Zollnikov, the bill sponsor, told the Committee of the Whole the measure is intended to “build transmission in a faster route with proper oversight of the public service commission,” and said stakeholders across the political spectrum had worked on the proposal.

The adopted amendment—listed in the transcript as SB0301.003.001—clarifies that when the commission reviews cost deviations it may consider the project’s full cost picture, not just individual overruns. Zollnikov said the change ensures ratepayers do not bear the cost of overruns without the commission accounting for underruns elsewhere on the project: \"[The PSC] gets to look at the whole picture.\" The amendment was adopted on a 50-0 recorded vote.

After no further amendments were offered, the committee reported the bill as recommended. The Senate then voted to pass Senate Bill 301 as amended, with a recorded vote of 50-0.

The Senate’s action moves the bill forward in the legislative process; the measure includes an immediate effective date in its text as presented on second reading.

Votes at a glance in the transcript record: the amendment to SB 301 passed 50-0 and the bill passed as amended 50-0.

Ending: The Senate report placed SB 301 among bills the committee recommended do pass when the committee report was adopted later in the session.","The Montana Senate amended and passed Senate Bill 301 to speed construction of electric transmission lines while clarifying review authority for the Public Service Commission over project costs and overruns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Selected Montana Senate actions from the March legislative day

Senate rejects bill requiring insurers to cover commercial towing cleanup costs; later indefinitely postpones it

Senate concurs in bill allowing physician assistants to serve as treating physicians in workers' comp claims

Senate concurs in changes to water-well contractor rules; amendment sets log‑submission timeline

Senate approves bill to accelerate electric transmission projects with added PSC oversight