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Bill would seek $60 million for 70‑bed forensic mental health hospital on eastern side of Montana
Summary
Sponsor asked the Appropriations Committee for $60 million from BISFIG funds to build a 70‑bed forensic mental health facility in eastern Montana, citing jail holds and long waits at Warm Springs and Galen; opponents questioned the use of BISFIG capital dollars and whether the capital development account is the correct funding source.
Representative Kelly urged the House Appropriations Committee to fund a new 70‑bed forensic mental health facility on Montana’s eastern side, asking for $60 million from the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BISFIG) appropriation.
Kelly told the panel the state is “in crisis,” citing Warm Springs and Galen as full and saying “every jail in the state has inmates on mental health holds,” some waiting more than two years for evaluation. She said the request is meant to reduce jail holds and speed evaluations.
The bill sponsor named a $60,000,000 appropriation and described the proposed facility as a forensic mental health hospital to relieve pressure on existing facilities. Jason Bridal of the Montana Association of Counties testified as a proponent, saying many people “are staying in our jails right now and that's not where they belong” and that an eastern facility would reduce law‑enforcement transport miles.
Heather O’Loughlin of the Montana Budget and Policy Center opposed the bill’s fiscal approach, telling the committee that the fiscal note shows $30,000,000 would come from BISFIG and that the center “doesn't think this is the best use of the BISFIG funds,” arguing the commission’s earlier focus was community investments rather than this kind of facility investment.
Committee members repeatedly asked where the appropriation would come from. Staff and witnesses explained the legislative history: the 2023 session set aside $75,000,000 in the capital development fund via House Bill 872 and a larger BISFIG allocation (noted during the hearing as $225,000,000 to DBHS). Russ Katherman from the Architecture and Engineering Division told the committee his reading of HB 872 is that $20,000,000 was for acquisition/renovation and $55,000,000 was set aside for commission‑driven purposes; he said the $55,000,000 had not been committed.
DPHHS’s Jennifer Nelson appeared as an informational witness to answer fiscal and operational questions about running a facility. Committee members noted uncertainty in the fiscal note and directed staff to investigate how the $75,000,000 capital set‑aside and BISFIG allocations have been “obligated” or otherwise accounted for. Representative Kelly closed by saying her experience running jails convinced her the crisis requires action and that construction would take years.
The committee did not take a final vote; members asked staff to clarify account obligations and other funding questions before further action.
