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Montana bill would expand traumatic brain injury services with $600,000 seed and $1 opt‑out vehicle donation
Summary
House Bill 341 would appropriate $600,000 from the traumatic brain injury account and create an ongoing $1 opt‑out motor vehicle registration donation to fund prevention, education and recovery support for Montanans living with traumatic brain injury; proponents urged a 'due pass.'
HELENA — Lawmakers heard personal testimony and agency briefing Wednesday on House Bill 341, which would expand how Montana spends traumatic brain injury (TBI) account dollars to fund education, prevention and direct recovery supports for people and families living with TBI.
Representative Ed Buttry, sponsor of HB 341, told the House Health and Human Services Committee the bill uses a one‑time $600,000 appropriation from the existing traumatic brain injury account to start the program and creates an ongoing $1 opt‑out donation added to motor vehicle registrations to provide sustained revenue. "Now this is 1 time only money. This is not general fund money," Buttry said, adding that the change would allow the state to fund hands‑on recovery services in addition to prevention and advisory‑council work.
The bill would also require county treasurers to post signage at registration locations explaining the donation and how vehicle owners can opt out. Proponents said the funding would be used to educate the public, support families and military personnel with TBI, and to support the existing traumatic brain injury advisory council.
Multiple witnesses described the human impact behind the proposal. Abigail St. Lawrence, who said she suffered a massive stroke in February 2022, urged lawmakers to back HB 341 and described gaps she found in education and recovery supports after her injury. "With the special account in House Bill 341, we hope to give individuals and families with TBI's strength," St. Lawrence said.
Advocates and organizations including Ability Montana, the Brain Injury Alliance, the Montana Trial Lawyers Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana and PacificSource testified in favor of the bill, citing prevention programs such as helmet distribution and the need for referral pathways to specialized TBI services.
Ann Geiger, a certified brain injury specialist, cited state reports to describe the scale of need: "According to the 2020 report, there were 370 deaths caused by brain injury that year, and there were 4,227 nonfatal brain injuries reported," she told the committee, and she urged funding for screening, workforce training and outreach to rural areas that lack providers.
Denise Brunette of the Department of Public Health and Human Services provided informational testimony and said the TBI advisory council has existed since about 2003; she said increased funding would likely expand outreach, collaboration, education and prevention efforts.
Committee members questioned the sponsor and witnesses about choice and revenue. Representative Zephyr asked whether the committee had data on how much an opt‑out mechanic raises compared with opt‑in programs; Buttry and other proponents testified that opt‑out mechanisms typically raise more money because they require an active opt‑out rather than an opt‑in. Lawmakers also asked how the bill would change the existing program and whether DPHHS could show operational details in a follow‑up presentation.
The hearing closed without a committee vote. Buttry urged members to "vote green," and the committee adjourned after the sponsor's closing remarks. The committee will consider the bill in future executive action; members asked staff to schedule follow‑up materials and, in some cases, additional presentations to clarify fiscal and programmatic implications.
