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House panel debates broad bill to criminalize giving drugs without consent; members worry about breadth
Summary
Representative Neil Durham sponsored HB 174 to criminalize administering a wide range of drugs (Schedules 1–5, alcohol, diphenhydramine) without consent. Advocates for domestic‑violence survivors supported restrictions; several committee members raised concerns that the bill is overly broad and could criminalize common parental, medical or accidental exposures.
Representative Neil Durham opened the HB 174 hearing by recounting concern that Montana lacked a statute clearly making it a crime to administer drugs without consent. He said the bill would expand earlier, narrower legislation to cover a broader set of substances and added exceptions for medical providers, parents and guardians and an explicit carve‑out for emergency use of naloxone.
Informational and advocacy witnesses included Kelson Young of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and a public‑defender…
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