The House Health and Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 77 after discussion characterizing it as a statutory cleanup intended to remove duplicative language related to temporary investigative authority in child abuse and neglect investigations.

Committee staff summarized House Bill 77 as legislation to revise laws related to child abuse and neglect investigations by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, specifically removing temporary investigative authority and repealing section 413-433 of the Montana Code Annotated. Committee members and stakeholders participating in the interim work group — including legislators, the department, county attorneys and the public defender’s office — described the change as clarifying language rather than a change in investigative practice.

Representative Rivas told the committee he reviewed the bill and related statutes and said the bill is a cleanup measure that should not change how emergency protective services, petitioners, or defense attorneys operate in practice. Vice Chair Howell, sponsor of the bill on the committee floor, asked for support and framed the change as improving clarity and consistency in statute so children and families are better served.

The committee called the question and gave the bill a due-pass recommendation; the transcript records the chair saying House Bill 77 will move to the floor. No amendments were offered in committee and no roll-call tally was recorded in the excerpt. Committee members noted the language was developed by an interim committee and informed by stakeholders over the summer.

What happens next
The bill was reported to the House floor. No fiscal notes, effective dates, or implementation changes were discussed on the record during committee action.