[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6619847,"mediaKeyId","2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316","parentId",2827201,"title","Bill would direct planning and funds for a new forensic mental-health facility to relieve jail backlog","audioSeconds",2909,"startMs",2616000,"endMs",5525000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316&start=2616&end=5525","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316/thumbnail_2616000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6619847/Montana/Bill-would-direct-planning-and-funds-for-a-new-forensic-mental-health-facility-to-relieve-jail-backlog","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619847-f4440d09380f6876c731011c76c53c46/orig.mp4?Expires=1773774379&Signature=Vjt58q6aSBfA8QCJgRY5xMAMLO88RbCpn~evTzzMtTWKTvNoZcSHZOREfnrhGTx26G1aFddjsLmRRSsJ6j2vmUCsTxkgLNKT-GEgYV6PGoEy88DukMxKcdtpXLjx583w1RnI00rF7gCWmPmAJ9ztIVEbX3lrqTGxLhqtKp4WbU9aSWBOGnHNW2zbtLkwl95I~K2ylI5MSdvKGFzID9EGEXUilcS102xqlnG91mjKqS5ns5yxBAAYhCeizml1DPqV~5BU4lVv2dWhL2vC62OSOTTnOz3ztqrXIqRb0vIpcExTZxqO2GSWnMAXnrL9PeLdGG-3MCKYNVdR4mLLB3WX4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Kelly opened the hearing on House Bill 912, a proposal to direct the construction of a new forensic mental-health facility (minimum 70 beds) intended to reduce waits for fitness evaluations and restoration of competency currently handled at the Galen/Warm Springs forensic unit and Montana State Hospital.

Missoula County Attorney Matt Jennings, testifying for the Montana County Attorneys Association, urged the Legislature to act and described a long-term trend he linked to reduced inpatient bed capacity: more people with serious mental illness end up in local jails. He said some defendants wait months or more than a year for a forensic bed and that delays have led to dismissed cases for speedy-trial reasons. Jail commanders and sheriffs from several counties described operational strain: inmates waiting for forensic beds occupy jail capacity, sometimes requiring long transports to access evaluation beds many hours away.

Witnesses from rural counties and law enforcement said the lack of regional forensic capacity forces long trips — in some cases 300–500 miles one way — and that transports and delays degrade patient condition and consume local law-enforcement time. Jail staff described detainees who have deteriorated while held in county facilities and the limits local jails face in providing psychotropic medication and sustained mental-health treatment.

Supporters framed the proposed $60 million appropriation as a means to break that bottleneck and urged building additional beds on the eastern side of the state so counties outside western Montana would face shorter transports. The Department of Administration’s architecture and engineering representative said the agency had not been involved in developing the $60 million estimate and would supply more specific fiscal information in the fiscal note.

Informational testimony noted different patient types and turnover rates: court-ordered 60-day evaluations, restoration patients who may require weeks to months, and long-stay GBMI (guilty but mentally ill) patients who occupy beds for many months. Committee members asked about bed allocation and operational costs; witnesses said allocation policy and bed-use rules would determine how much backlog the new facility could eliminate.

The hearing closed with no committee vote recorded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Human Services - Mar 31, 2025 15:00 - 18:00","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 912 would authorize planning and initial funding for a new forensic mental-health facility of at least 70 beds to reduce forensic-bed waits and county jail backlogs.","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},6619856,"Committee hears bill to add state funds to federal rapid-rehousing program",2134,221000,2355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316&start=221&end=2355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316/thumbnail_221000.jpg","/articles/6619856/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-add-state-funds-to-federal-rapid-rehousing-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619856-f01225f94612e49864339221a6d96b12/orig.mp4?Expires=1773774379&Signature=Vz9xhWmC3Z2mifvvn0QeswSGhJ9fdrzptvbKyEVYQ51nls0RulTmDn6ulzXxoBoPPkTHjyPGtYvjefRWfJ~Bj959NdrAKj7IjENNE1d8pw69CiHOb0ZbU4nHU0IrZSdxwdHjydT6shzUaKVFzpL5L6g8VipVsHlbfIAbXMvSEH4Nn6OJsxUEnsxLvGbmpCIWW5ZIn-QsEbwWbatB8yTExINSgqAH1Z71Tyo-fEtIWd7f-tu9cohEylGuvKjpI9Rk5CQGKjo~Z9TIX77KjaVN4n3lPQ0gdoOw2PQDN9zNz8YrxQwqo0MsRzLmp-M0Uqhy02cAd1~Ir7yysIadb37bLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative S.J. Howell, vice chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, opened the public hearing on House Bill 843, which would provide state funds to supplement the federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program to expand homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing.

Howell said the bill would “appropriate $2,000,000 — 1 million dollars a year for the biennium” to supplement ESG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She told the committee Montana has seen steep increases in homelessness, citing a statewide point-in-time count that she said showed a 37.4% rise in individuals experiencing homelessness since 2022.

Supporters from nonprofit providers and community action agencies described how rapid rehousing funds are used for short- and medium-term rental assistance — for example, deposits, first month’s rent, rental arrears, utility payments and landlord engagement — and urged the Legislature to add a stable state funding source to stretch federal dollars and reach more people. Kathy Marks of Rocky Mountain Development Council told the committee ESG funds were used recently to place a senior who otherwise faced hotel living into an apartment by covering a deposit and first month’s rent. Hannah Altman of HRDC District 9 said the bill would allow use of assistance up to 150% of HUD fair market rent in areas where local rents exceed HUD limits.

Officials and service providers emphasized practical barriers the bill is targeted to address: limited federal funding that often cannot match current local rents, scarce rental inventory in rural counties, and long waits for housing vouchers or public housing. Multiple witnesses gave examples of how relatively small amounts of rental assistance can stabilize families and reduce use of emergency services. The department that manages ESG funding told the committee the state grants would supplement, not replace, federal ESG funds; the department also confirmed ESG formula grant amounts of about $744,418 in program year 2024 and $741,906 for program year 2025, as reported in testimony.

Committee members asked providers for estimates of the number of households the proposed funding could reach; proponents said local agencies have connected over 100 households in the past year across their grants and that the additional funds would increase capacity and allow prioritizing prevention.

The hearing closed with no committee vote recorded.

Ending: The bill will move through the committee process; no action was taken at the hearing and no committee motion or vote was recorded.","Representative S.J. Howell opened a hearing on House Bill 843, proposing state funds to supplement the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program to expand rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention in Montana.",{"_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},6619842,"Hearing held on bill to fund temporary at-home infant care for qualifying Montana families",5566,5566000,-1,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316&start=5566&end=0","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316/thumbnail_5566000.jpg","/articles/6619842/Montana/Hearing-held-on-bill-to-fund-temporary-at-home-infant-care-for-qualifying-Montana-families","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619842-03d2fd1e0c7e7a45449cba0c810ec5df/orig.mp4?Expires=1773774379&Signature=duyayhtOiahpLZeM~hwOStWi~2GqXpqb1cD4udGgJGNLwgOz2JyjCKbZFc~yk6IEcFvM6dAH1MwFVvI2EoPg2SuibkDSuuVhvjlKo5NW06Ggq4hTuxXEko-hZLioSRFdbCibxqGCMIU6VeEuvCkKRCP6nD4SOyKEGlvvNv0rXsrw89hnXZiydazAgx0hZdEGFjKmLza2iCErRdvqyKxJ43O8sCrgr2hClI4d~~lrsapWVl4Km0GYY~kMIFeKn1cZHe2WV33Cn195yEMj91m6WfelyuCY9tYT3A9o87QVuLPUX~zENrBZ0rH5-7C3v5RpkcsmFuu0tcWOHpZaaydUgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Vail Durham opened the hearing on House Bill 835, a proposal to provide a temporary at-home infant care subsidy for qualifying Montana families. The sponsor said the proposal was intended to expand parental choice and support early childhood development by enabling primary caregivers to remain at home during infants’ critical early months.

Durham described the program as targeted to about 200 families, with an appropriation of $2,000,000 that the sponsor said would translate to an estimated $800 per month per family under current assumptions. The bill’s text as discussed at the hearing included eligibility tied to work history (for example, full-time employment in the three months prior to the child’s birth) and a program maximum of 36 months of at-home infant-care support per family.

Pediatricians and early-childhood advocates highlighted developmental research on 0–3 brain development and described targeted financial support to families as a health intervention that can reduce childhood toxic stress. Witnesses described the program as another “tool in the toolbox” for family supports; proponents also recalled a prior pilot and urged the committee to consider implementation pathways and rulemaking timelines.

Tracy Moseman, administrator for the Early Childhood and Family Support Division at DPHHS, testified that the department could administer the program but would need rulemaking time; she said getting rules in place by July 1 would be a “big lift” and suggested an October 1 implementation target would be more realistic. Committee members asked about eligibility details and whether DPHHS could meet an early start date; the department requested further consultation on rule timing and administrative capacity.

The hearing closed without a committee vote recorded.","Representative Vail Durham presented House Bill 835 to create an at-home infant-care subsidy for qualifying parents, proposing roughly $2 million to serve about 200 families and a maximum of 36 months of support per family.",{"_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},6619852,"Senate bill would waive fees for IDs, transcripts for former foster youth ages 18–21",166,2372000,2538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316&start=2372&end=2538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827201-6e48c0b0ae2c3898d9c27c107309e316/thumbnail_2372000.jpg","/articles/6619852/Montana/Senate-bill-would-waive-fees-for-IDs-transcripts-for-former-foster-youth-ages-1821","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619852-08820fdaf78b51f8f35348f609797852/orig.mp4?Expires=1773774379&Signature=DuaQLEVsPOd3-5o78iq7CrWQAcRUbFVOb2AixlwgwpcFYtq67jHusZssQx4kwzIbMOzBDESRa~FBtW4nMbN4~VohTFZxBZ5jPYaVK7l5ioCThE8LKsbSerK-Il19t5BEuuR0qjkwd-k~5Osz5xAhCXpIChSMEKKs8aHm~B4YqVEx5uxmSZm-9dIETBQtwGNRf6z6QSjw2oTGCqQOmyPY40c5ikiadqA8ps4EsB0V~MvDik9sh7ijc8FDf5supAECSMuAAgF2BZb7fPSEUcicO5s3BO5GwdBxy5~nYFI2aKYT1EORKz~d3IufEOgMBVnPlJ5XhdET0msQ9a7Z2gBFLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Laura Smith opened a hearing on Senate Bill 412, a bill to waive application and issuance fees for certain government documents (for example, birth certificates, identification cards and school transcripts) for former foster youth aged 18 to 21.

Smith said the bill was informed by her experience at the Department of Public Health and Human Services and consultations with stakeholders; she said the bill uses Chafee funds where available to reimburse agencies. Nikki Grossberg, division administrator for Child and Family Services, testified in support and told the committee that about 70 children aged out of foster care last year in Montana. Grossberg said the measure reduces barriers for those young adults by waiving or reimbursing costs for documents used in employment, education and benefits access.

No opponents appeared in the hearing and there was no committee vote recorded. The department indicated support and offered to work with agencies to implement fee waivers and reimbursements for covered documents.

Ending: The hearing closed; the committee did not take action at this meeting.","Senator Laura Smith introduced Senate Bill 412 to waive fees for birth certificates, driver's licenses and other documents for former foster youth ages 18–21. DPHHS Division of Child and Family Services supported the bill and said about 70 youth aged out of foster care last year; no committee vote was taken at the hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would direct planning and funds for a new forensic mental-health facility to relieve jail backlog

Committee hears bill to add state funds to federal rapid-rehousing program

Hearing held on bill to fund temporary at-home infant care for qualifying Montana families

Senate bill would waive fees for IDs, transcripts for former foster youth ages 18–21