Helena — The Montana House Business and Labor Committee on an executive action vote approved House Bill 60, a state auditor cleanup measure, after adopting three technical amendments that removed a bail‑bond surety provision, extended the sunset for the federal 340B drug program in state law, and clarified surplus‑lines insurance procurement language.

The committee removed section 16 of the bill — language tied to surety bail bonds — with Amendment HB60.001.001. Committee members said policy conversations on bail‑bond licensing should occur in a separate bill. "This is a cleanup bill," the Committee Chair said when explaining the change. Representative Marshall, the bill sponsor, moved the amendment and the committee passed it by voice vote.

The committee then adopted Amendment HB60.001.002 to extend the termination date for the 340B drug program language in state session law. Committee staff explained that the change moves previously enacted termination dates forward (the provision had been amended in earlier sessions from 2023 to 2025) and that the current amendment changes the termination date to 2029. Staff added an immediate effective date for the session‑law sections that extend the sunset, and retained an October 1, 2025 effective date for the remainder of the bill. "We had to insert section 38 which is the effective date section… it's making sections 35 and 37… effective on passage and approval," Jameson, a committee staff member, told members.

Amendment HB60.001.003 struck language in section 9 that could be read to limit the ways surplus‑lines insurance is procured. Staff said the change clarifies that all legally authorized procurement mechanisms under Title 33 remain available. The State Auditor's Office indicated support for that amendment when the chair offered to bring a witness forward.

After adopting the three amendments, Representative Marshall moved that HB60 be passed as amended. The committee approved the bill by voice vote and recorded several proxies. Representative Lynch noted Representative Sullivan and Representative Carlin voted aye by proxy; later, additional proxies were recorded (Representative S. Fitzpatrick, Representative Lehi and Representative Seacens Crowe were announced as voting aye by proxy). The committee chair said a committee report will be prepared and sent to the House floor.

Discussion and procedural notes focused largely on technical drafting, session‑law codification, effective dates and the committee's approach to amending statute text in a condensed packet. Jameson explained the committee packet format, saying the condensed copies show only the statutory changes and save staff time and resources.

The committee did not take separate policy action on bail‑bond licensing; members said Representative Nicholls is working on a separate bill where that policy can be discussed.

Votes at a glance: HB60 — Passed as amended (three amendments); voice vote, proxies recorded. Committee report to be filed and the bill to be sent to the House floor.

The committee exited executive action after moving HB78 to the floor and reviewed its upcoming schedule.