Representative Brian Close (House District 65) told the committee House Bill 765 would reestablish the WINGS working group and revive an advisory structure focused on guardianship and conservatorship reform. Close cited national recommendations from the American Bar Association and local cases where lack of oversight allowed financial abuse and inadequate monitoring.

Tim Summers, state director for AARP Montana, testified in support. He and other proponents described WINGS as a multi‑stakeholder forum that can produce checklists, training, outreach, and recommendations for the legislature and courts. Dash DeJarnet, a statewide practitioner, also urged reestablishing WINGS and supported adding law enforcement and financial‑sector representation.

Representative Close said the bill mirrors a 2015 statutory structure that expired due to budget interruptions and inertia; he proposed no immediate funding in the bill but said the newly reconstituted group could request grants once priorities are identified. The bill available to the committee includes a seven‑year sunset in the amendment package.

Executive action: The committee adopted a termination date amendment (sunset) and later passed the bill out of committee. Staff discussed adding law‑enforcement and financial‑sector voices; the sponsor indicated willingness to add those as amendments, but said he preferred to pursue them as a floor amendment to avoid late‑day staff workload. Committee roll call recorded the final vote as 11 in favor and 10 opposed; the bill will move to the House floor.

Ending: Proponents emphasized training, oversight, and voluntary stakeholder collaboration as a lower‑cost path to address guardianship abuses and strengthen monitoring rather than imposing immediate large‑scale program funding.