An update on the Montana 2025 legislative session

It has been a very busy 2025 legislative session and we want to give you an update on where our key issues stand as of right now.

Senate Bill 390, updates the Clean Indoor Air Act to include e-cigarettes. It received overwhelming support, especially among teens advocating to curb the youth vaping epidemic. After a small amendment in the House, the bill had to return to the Senate, where it passed with a two-thirds majority vote.

The legislature also passed House Bill 869, which requires Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) for school athletic events. Legislators heard from an athletic trainer who had saved a student’s life with an AED, as well as advocates ranging from first responders to health professionals to school officials. The bill passed the legislature with broad support, and both bills have been signed by the Governor.

We are also keeping our eye on two key measures to improve food security:

· House Bill 551: Provides state funding for reduced-price lunch copays, making school meals free for thousands more Montana children.

· Budget Amendment House Bill 2: Includes legislative funding for Summer EBT for the first time.

Both of these bills have been sent to the Governor but are waiting for him to take action on them.

One of the last bills of the session, Senate Bill 150, posed a significant threat to the Clean Indoor Air Act by allowing “cigar rooms” in bars, opening the door for Montana bars and restaurants to bring back smoking sections. Advocates concerned about the impact this could have on public health fought to kill this bill. It failed on the final vote. We couldn’t have done it without the help of volunteers and partners across the state.