[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6100434,"mediaKeyId","2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc","parentId",2813583,"title","Committee hears bill to license community health workers; proponents cite workforce, opponents seek implementation details","audioSeconds",1866,"startMs",3264000,"endMs",5130000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc&start=3264&end=5130","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc/thumbnail_3264000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100434/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-license-community-health-workers-proponents-cite-workforce-opponents-seek-implementation-details","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100434-9feea9ae7f6e7c6ff83749c2112e50a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021899&Signature=G~RYOGPwntKnv5kIUiJFvTitrt~1ODENDGrVJeokTeHfp8B3Dtmdh4gs4p~JF1JsXkOPQLJ8tOirpZ0fbiYUJEmiZ5~BNT-EZa-MIROm1i15zjcwf426l9cT5ifojzVKafkGh6pbKfvv~j4-ojk5c~UPCM7kt6GatU5yZXymzOUWY4f2znYsB~HhC4s5mgR13a1Q3ehJW2cZDdlQduwabpuaIzebnb24js2n1mG-SbSx6IoYGynJvh5rsV1zRjsujeGnt4Zf6YgtgiqPQoshRt~VJJL0T429muBZPOEHoSko07zvHGbCWE4yovNI5qCYHJ2VUHT-0HUvlyyqmdUHTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Buttrey introduced House Bill 850 to the House Business and Labor Committee, proposing a professional license for community health workers (CHWs). The bill would create statutory definitions, vest licensing authority in the Department of Labor and Industry, authorize rulemaking, and include optional language allowing the Department of Public Health and Human Services to consider CHW services for Medicaid reimbursement.

Proponents said CHWs already operate across Montana in hospitals, community clinics, tribal programs and public-health settings; they testified that certification or licensure would standardize training, recognize CHWs as part of the care team, and help employers identify qualified candidates. Kayla Morris of St. Peter's Health described CHWs as \"trusted members of their community\" who help patients manage chronic conditions and connect to food, housing and transportation. Mark Nay, a CHW, described preventing repeated emergency department visits by helping patients follow care plans.

Health providers and associations — including the Montana Hospital Association, Montana Medical Association, Montana Primary Care Association and urban Indian health centers — supported the bill, saying licensure would encourage employers to hire CHWs and could enable reimbursement mechanisms. The Montana Office of Rural Health and MSU/UM training programs said they have trained several hundred CHWs through federal grants: University of Montana and Montana State University have trained more than 500 combined, and the MSU program has trained 266 to date. Training is currently grant-funded and free for participants, but the UM witness said the federal grant for UM's training runs through September 2025 and that other funding or credentialing pathways are being explored.

Questions from committee members focused on current training availability, funding, how experience would count in lieu of formal coursework, and whether the license would require in-person components. Makenzie Peterson (University of Montana) and Kaylin Mock (Montana Office of Rural Health) said existing programs offer online, 10-week courses with telecoaching and that universities are coordinating certification standards with the emerging Montana CHW Association.

Informational witnesses from DPHHS, the Department of Labor and Industry and university training programs answered technical questions; no formal committee action was recorded during the hearing. The sponsor closed by urging support and noting that licensure would give the CHW workforce statewide recognition and assist Medicaid, employers and health systems seeking workforce solutions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Business and Labor - Friday, Mar 28, 2025 07:58 - 11:23","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Buttrey asked the House Business and Labor Committee to establish state licensure for community health workers to standardize training, increase recognition and enable potential Medicaid reimbursement.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100439,"Montana hearing on major bail-code overhaul draws supporters and strong opposition",3259,2062000,5321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc&start=2062&end=5321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc/thumbnail_2062000.jpg","/articles/6100439/Montana/Montana-hearing-on-major-bail-code-overhaul-draws-supporters-and-strong-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100439-ef02173e05fbf0ae8dca47a4b7c00e1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021899&Signature=SGfAugG0yW1oIwDGjwCsr4GGneIF53Nu6uqPyRKiKRf56rGsDNZl5ArsreK92iJDk0rJyuRZGnA9kT2lGt5XQmC69VwubLLaGwJlt4kyTWTRTzUWyf0-ok6p3sVul0Pdec0pdiwlZQKcQrySwtxw5i-D8QOz9xfyQYmGAmwcX2xeRKWL11qCOxnz-hgpXD4cItnhJVinp7Aqlqsbq4tACSoD2VHn13~IY0ZOdz4Rkt969UVhePBgIkSvcsUbxizbTovxlf04TQVRtpW-q70tlrpQnfgIBuGfXBVqzNDbt-9VqmakEZpZbo7Fsp~qStKk40qzmqbmw3sy3TC8LARE9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Nellie Nicholl presented House Bill 852, the third bill in a package that seeks to clarify and rewrite Montana law governing bail, surety agents and related court procedures. The 25-plus–page draft covers definitions, uniform forfeiture timelines, notification rules, interstate surrender and extradition processes, limits on jail fees related to bail, prohibitions on multiple bonds, and expanded access by surety bond agents to court information and hearings.

Proponents — largely surety bail agents and industry associations — urged the committee to pass the bill. John Looney, president of the Montana Bail Agents Association, said the measure addresses inconsistent rules across 210 Montana courts and would establish uniform procedures for forfeiture, exoneration and surrenders. \"This bill is designed to clarify language and make some and get some consistency across the state,\" Looney said, describing needs for timely notice and a defined party role for surety agents so they can respond to forfeiture notices and coordinate return of defendants.

Other bail-industry proponents told the committee that current variations across justice, city and district courts create operational difficulties and risk for surety agents and their contractors. Supporters asked the committee to accept the full package, saying it would streamline procedures and reduce costs by avoiding repeated court appearances.

Opponents included the elected clerk of the Montana Supreme Court, county attorneys, the Montana County Attorneys Association, the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and the Montana Judges Association. Bowen Greenwood, the Supreme Court clerk, said his office does not control access to lower-court records or the Full Court Enterprise repository and cautioned that the clerk could not unilaterally grant statewide access. County attorneys raised public-safety and civil-rights concerns and described historical abuses by some agents and bounty hunters.

Missoula County Attorney Matt Jennings told the committee that in some counties the bail-bond industry had a history of coercive or dangerous practices and that HB 852 would expand powers and access for private actors with insufficient accountability. He also said the bill would remove or limit options such as cash bail that allow defendants to post refundable sums to keep their housing and livelihoods intact. Jesse Luther, representing clerks of district court, and Bruce Spencer, representing judges, objected to language that would give bond agents \"clerk access\" to sealed or confidential records and said the clerk of the Supreme Court does not have authority to grant that access.

Sheriffs and judges raised concerns about operational and constitutional limits: they said lower courts cannot legally make orders enforceable in other states; they criticized provisions that would increase hearings and require courts to add process; and they argued immediate effective dates would be infeasible without implementation time for the judicial system.

The sponsor said an amendment was coming and that two other companion bills in the package (pending in the Senate) clarify related matters. She referenced a fiscal note and said total committee fiscal impact is modest (a small number of dollars listed in the fiscal note) and that the package would create efficiencies and reduce jail populations and costs. The committee received proponents and opponents; no final committee action was recorded at the hearing. The sponsor said she would work with stakeholders on amendments.

Because HB 852 would change multiple court and enforcement procedures, witnesses in opposition asked the committee to slow the measure, coordinate with the insurance commissioner, prosecutors, defense counsel and the judicial branch, and ensure safeguards for defendants' privacy and public-safety oversight.","Representative Nellie Nicholl presented House Bill 852, a broad rewrite intended to create uniform procedures for surety bail agents, court notices, forfeiture timelines, surrenders and related court records access.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100444,"Lawmakers weigh interim study to improve Montana access to federal grants for tribal and local governments",857,984000,1841000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc&start=984&end=1841","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc/thumbnail_984000.jpg","/articles/6100444/Montana/Lawmakers-weigh-interim-study-to-improve-Montana-access-to-federal-grants-for-tribal-and-local-governments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100444-88bb76fc4e94a5dde3c1d27a2b8798a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021899&Signature=IhF28rfjMMSF1mIXH9q60axzzip6ZZF5ow6jFeKZGGooujyMG~nNKe5SkU9FcUyIK6XfdPaUMq46FECv~lxU-g2aSrXzaIICSR0I2o1uCnto2Meu2U4PwfNRBHXaMXarMB1o84Y869QVvZn4dHj2aXfBic5yZkPXsnzv3N-cn4HMUViANYmPwm9m7YeHXxmsLPbN-y7dSQ3tywQhT9daJks9VfwcfPWm5sGTDUA8cmaVAKjsDdDR5yvR9bxk7mL4A~TQEYK49EKrvofqLTuBtBA3S0UpU9dq8QrKFDoXqJTvqNBQAq~KVR75glSGYpIF1lrj6bQdtyUaUrTBrG1kqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Luke Muskevich introduced House Joint Resolution 28 to request an interim study aimed at identifying and improving Montana entities' access to federal grant opportunities, including tribal governments, counties, cities and school districts. Muskevich said the idea was prompted by large, recent federal awards to Montana agencies and localities and by concerns that smaller or rural jurisdictions lack capacity to apply for and administer federal grants.

\"The right grant for the right project made to the right organization at the right time presents significant potential for economic development,\" Muskevich told the committee. He cited a recent approximately $47.5 million economic development grant to assist three counties with infrastructure and a separate $700 million commitment for part of a transmission line and said such awards represent generational investments.

Multiple proponents supported the study: Doug Reisig of the Montana Quality Education Coalition said the study would identify disparities and recommend strategies to promote equity in federal-grant acquisition; Kevin Wade of the Montana Chamber of Commerce pointed to benefits for businesses and communities and cited several recent grant awards; Kelly Lynch of the Montana League of Cities and Towns described small towns' fears about federal reporting and administrative burden and urged capacity-building; Delina Cuts The Rope (Fort Belknap planning director) urged attention to barriers such as population thresholds, matching requirements and data-validation rules facing tribal governments.

Mandy Rambo, deputy director at the Department of Commerce, appeared as an informational witness and noted the department's involvement in several federal grant programs and recent awards. Proponents urged the committee to authorize the study to document how federal funds affect Montana communities and to recommend ways to increase successful applications and administration at local and tribal levels.

No formal committee vote was recorded during the hearing; the sponsor asked members for consideration and a due pass so the interim study could proceed.","Rep. Luke Muskevich introduced HJR 28, asking the committee to authorize an interim study to identify barriers and improve access to federal grants for the state, tribes, counties, cities and school districts.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100449,"Montana lawmaker seeks interim study on natural reduction and alkaline hydrolysis for human remains",704,258000,962000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc&start=258&end=962","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813583-bcd2efcedde817fe4e243692ec332afc/thumbnail_258000.jpg","/articles/6100449/Montana/Montana-lawmaker-seeks-interim-study-on-natural-reduction-and-alkaline-hydrolysis-for-human-remains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100449-d607fa6a937096abf6467172f25227fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021899&Signature=OfhUIwIj4W3EeSPXf-S8abn-4BRQ3Mq4y89YzQcnylQiZYIhgT1zC~Sy6y04MHMXfcjURecPL0g0UrxKSrE7FHyaWdf0h-pWbOVMHQaA5SLqZO-vMeQVEd1sftF4eCdnGofAyGaVUOytlBUeHhPuCWd3f7xOI5RXJNZTxfgdgMpXshWENmb62T3vv2q9h77Drfh0iBpv1k3AkPtUZENamAbq6JSRrzVhUXk4S49k-gXPTlObLI249-cUG3PHsDAbUc5gdc3vYIwSlDVEA-2SCE7SJ5Qf-wYOvv9aspSEg~Cj34iYJl0CVqrqit-v082UTkP2QEEHrLdsL8uQ36VFQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Denise Baum (R-45) asked the House Business and Labor Committee to approve an interim study of morticians and funeral services that would examine alternative final disposition methods, notably natural organic reduction and alkaline hydrolysis. Baum said the idea came from a constituent and follow-up work with the Funeral Services Board.

The study request, filed as House Joint Resolution 27, would let legislators and stakeholders consider terminology and licensing, how cemeteries or burial forests could be used, and safeguards around handling and disposition of any byproducts. \"Natural reduction is a process where human remains are converted to soil using a container that accelerates the process of biological decomposition,\" Baum said, describing the method as producing soil in four to six weeks and noting that Washington and Oregon have developed legal frameworks and burial-forest uses.

Brad Longcake of the Montana Funeral Directors Association supported the study, telling the committee that the industry needs time to reconcile terminology — \"mortician\" versus older terms such as \"undertaker\" — and to define licensing distinctions between mortuaries and crematories. He said Montana currently has no providers offering the two processes but that the industry and the Funeral Services Board want time to draft appropriate statutes and rules.

Quinlan O'Connor, chief legal counsel for the Department of Labor and Industry (which houses the Funeral Services Board), told the committee the department already planned a statute review of the board and welcomed legislative help. Committee members asked whether prior legislation on alkaline hydrolysis existed; O'Connor said he was not aware of recent bills.

Proponents raised environmental data cited by the sponsor: estimates presented during testimony compared material and energy use from conventional burial and flame cremation; Baum noted figures for wood, concrete, embalming fluid and greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional practices. Witnesses also referenced \"model disposition standards for funeral service\" and pointed to Washington state's statutes and rules as a potential model for Montana.

No formal action or vote was recorded during the hearing. The sponsor asked the committee to give HJR 27 a \"do pass\" recommendation so the interim body could develop legislation for the 2027 session.

The committee closed the hearing after proponents and an informational witness from the Department of Labor and Industry spoke.","Rep. Denise Baum asked the House Business and Labor Committee to authorize an interim study of alternative final disposition methods — including natural organic reduction (human composting) and alkaline hydrolysis — citing environmental benefits and the need for model statutes and regulatory clarity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to license community health workers; proponents cite workforce, opponents seek implementation details

Montana hearing on major bail-code overhaul draws supporters and strong opposition

Lawmakers weigh interim study to improve Montana access to federal grants for tribal and local governments

Montana lawmaker seeks interim study on natural reduction and alkaline hydrolysis for human remains