Representative Brian Klose introduced House Bill 765 to reestablish the Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders (WINGS), a multi‑stakeholder advisory group the sponsor said had lapsed after an earlier statutory sunset.

Klose described nationwide concerns with guardianship systems — limited training, inconsistent monitoring, and financial‑abuse risks — and said WINGS would convene courts, caregivers, advocates, and professionals to recommend reforms, training, and possible grant programs.

Nut graf: Witnesses said WINGS provides a low‑cost, stakeholder‑driven forum to improve guardianship practice without immediately creating new ongoing expenses. Supporters urged passage with a limited sunset and suggested expanding membership to include law enforcement and financial‑sector representatives.

Tim Summers, state director for AARP Montana, urged the committee to reestablish WINGS and recommended adding law enforcement and financial‑institution participation or adjunct membership to strengthen oversight. Dash Dejarnet, an attorney and national advocate, noted more than half of U.S. states use WINGS‑style groups and called the reauthorization ‘‘fundamentally necessary’’ to deal with complex guardianship issues.

The sponsor said the revived WINGS group would initially meet using virtual platforms to minimize cost and then request specific funding for projects if the group recommended grants or training programs. The bill as amended adds a termination date of Sept. 30, 2032.

Action: The committee voted to advance House Bill 765 as amended. The committee adopted a staff amendment adding a termination date and discussed, but did not add as a committee amendment, proposed membership additions for law enforcement and financial professionals; the sponsor said those additions could be considered as a floor amendment.

Ending: The committee moved the reauthorization to the House floor with a sunset in place and invited the sponsor and Supreme Court staff to develop an implementation plan and funding requests if WINGS identifies actionable priorities.