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SB 136MONTANASession 2025State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Montana bill classifies physician aid in dying as against public policy and bars patient consent as a defense to homicide

Original title: Prohibit consent as a defense for physician assisted suicide

Last action · May 23, 2025: (S) Died in ProcessSponsor: Carl Glimm

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Official description

Prohibit consent as a defense for physician assisted suicide

Why it matters

The measure exposes physicians who prescribe life-ending medication to criminal homicide prosecution regardless of whether the patient agreed to the procedure, altering legal liabilities for end-of-life medical practices in the state.

Background
  • Montana is among a small number of states where legal challenges and legislative actions have historically addressed physician-assisted dying. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Physicians

Physicians face potential homicide charges without the defense of patient consent if they prescribe lethal medication to end a patient's life.

Directly affected

Patients seeking end-of-life medication

Patients are legally barred from consenting to physician-assisted suicide, prohibiting physicians from providing lethal doses for self-administration.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill apply to the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment?
No. The legislation explicitly states that does not include withholding or withdrawing s or providing comfort care medication under reasonable medical standards.
What is the legal consequence for a physician who provides lethal medication under this bill?
A physician who prescribes a lethal dose of medication for self-administration can be charged with homicide, and the patient's consent cannot be used as a defense.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died on the Senate floor.

Procedural history

27 actions
  1. May 23, 2025Senate
    (S) Died in Process
  2. Apr 9, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading
  3. Apr 9, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  4. Mar 25, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Report
  5. Mar 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Executive Action
  6. Mar 17, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
Show 21 earlier actions
  1. Feb 10, 2025House
    (H) 1st Reading
  2. Feb 10, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Referred to Committee
  3. Feb 7, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to House
  4. Feb 7, 2025Senate
    (S) 3rd Reading
  5. Feb 7, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  6. Feb 6, 2025Senate
    (S) 2nd Reading
  7. Feb 6, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  8. Feb 3, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Report
  9. Feb 3, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Executive Action
  10. Jan 25, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  11. Jan 15, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  12. Jan 14, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
  13. Jan 14, 2025SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  14. Jan 14, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  15. Jan 10, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  16. Jan 9, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  17. Jan 8, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  18. Jan 8, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  19. Jan 7, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  20. Jan 7, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  21. Dec 28, 2024House
    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Carl GlimmSenate · District 3RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift98% confidence

Exclusion of Consent in End-of-Life Procedures

The bill carves out a specific exception to general statutory consent rules under MCA 45-2-211 by declaring physician aid in dying contrary to public policy.

Montana

Connected Entities

Carl Glimm, Montana
PersonCarl Glimm“Introduced Senate Bill 136 in the Montana Senate.”Map →
locationMontana“Jurisdiction where the legislation was introduced.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
  • Controversy85
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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