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Committee passes bill barring compelled medical treatment as release condition for quarantine
Summary
House Bill 888, sponsored by Rep. Jedidiah Hinkle, would prohibit using vaccines, medications or other drug treatments as a condition for release from quarantine. Supporters framed it as protecting personal medical choice; public-health officials warned it could conflict with existing TB-control statutes. Committee approved the amended bill.
Representative Jedidiah Hinkle told the committee HB 888 would prohibit requiring vaccines, medications or other drug treatments as a condition for release from quarantine or isolation orders. Hinkle said the measure responds to local drafts of quarantine plans that raised alarms in communities and aims to prevent coercion while preserving boards’ authority to order quarantine or isolation itself.
Supporters from multiple counties and advocacy groups described instances where local board-of-health plans prompted public concern and urged statutory clarity to protect individual choice. Tom Burnett, a supporter, said, “You shouldn’t be subjected to a second level of coercion.” Several proponents asked the bill to go further to restrict mandatory involuntary detention and to cap quarantine duration.
Public-health witnesses testified in opposition. John Forte, health officer for Yellowstone County and CEO of RiverStone Health, said forcing medications or vaccines is not accepted public-health practice in Montana and raised concerns that the bill could conflict with existing statutory authority for tuberculosis control (MCA 50-17). He warned the measure could hamper responses to highly infectious lethal diseases if it removed discretion for treatment in narrowly defined, legally authorized cases.
Committee members asked detailed questions about potential conflicts with TB-control statutes, the scope of local board-of-health authority and whether prior 2021 legislation (including HB 702/2021 changes) covered similar territory. The sponsor said HB 888 focuses specifically on coercion tied to release conditions and offered a friendly amendment strengthening the language to prevent compelled treatment as part of an order.
In executive action the committee adopted an amendment and approved HB 888 as amended by recorded roll call (reported 10 ayes, 7 noes). The transcript includes extended questioning and legal concerns raised by public-health officials; supporters emphasized the bill’s preventive focus to avoid coercive local policies.
What’s next: HB 888 passed the Local Government Committee as amended and will proceed to the next legislative steps for consideration by the full House.
Representative Jedidiah Hinkle (bill sponsor) — first appearance: SEG 902. Opposition witness John Forte (Yellowstone County health officer) — first appearance: SEG 123).
