Debate over temporary pregnancy parking permit bill lays bare split between accommodation advocates and disability groups

Senate Transportation Committee members heard competing testimony on Senate Bill 547, which would create a temporary parking permit for pregnant people. The committee recessed action on the bill to allow further drafting and stakeholder negotiation.

Senator Shane Morigeau, sponsor of SB 547, told the committee the proposal would expand access to a temporary parking permit currently available under Montana’s temporary disability placard rules and said the bill is intended to give expecting people an easy option for short-term relief: “it tells women that we understand, we appreciate you, and we wanna give you an option.”

Proponents included pregnant residents and local advocates who described first-trimester nausea, fatigue, mobility challenges, and hardship managing errands and small children without closer parking. Bracha Tenenbaum, who testified she is three and a half months pregnant, said having “the option to apply for a temporary parking permit would be so helpful,” and that a permit would make routine errands safer and easier.

Opponents — led by Disability Rights Montana, Ability Montana and centers for independent living — urged the committee to oppose the bill, arguing the change is unnecessary and could reduce accessible parking availability for people with disabilities. Krista Gabriel of Disability Rights Montana said the organization “opposes Senate Bill 547” because the proposal expands eligibility solely for pregnancy even though “pregnancy-related impairments may qualify” under current law. Opponents raised three recurring objections: (1) current statutes already permit temporary placards when a health care provider certifies a substantially limiting condition, (2) adding pregnancy as a category could increase demand without increasing the number of accessible spaces required by law, and (3) the bill imposes a $10 fee for permits that disability advocates said sets an unfavorable precedent for charging for reasonable accommodations.

Sponsor’s response and committee reaction: Senator Morigeau said the bill is intended to lower the barrier for expecting people who may not have a documented complication and so might not seek a temporary placard under current rules. He also acknowledged flexibility on the proposal’s details, including the $10 fee and the permit duration; the bill text currently allows a permit “for a period not to exceed 1 year,” and the sponsor said many state models limit the period to late pregnancy plus post-partum recovery (e.g., third trimester plus six months).

Fiscal and legal clarifications: Morigeau said a fiscal note estimates about $33,000 in annual revenue with a $45,000 start-up cost; opponents noted Montana discontinued a long-ago fee for disability placards and argued charging $10 would be inappropriate for an accommodation. Committee members also cited existing statutory language discussed in testimony that a temporary placard may be issued for a condition expected to improve within six months and that extensions may be granted by a health care provider.

Outcome: The committee closed testimony and agreed not to take executive action immediately. Members said they wanted time to negotiate changes that address opponents’ concerns — notably the fee structure, statutory overlap with existing temporary placard rules and the effect on accessible parking supply. The committee scheduled further work and deferred an executive action vote until Friday to allow time for stakeholder discussions.

What’s next: The sponsor said she is willing to work with opponents to refine the measure’s timeframe, eligibility language and fee. If changes are made the committee could take executive action at the next scheduled meeting.