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SB 249MONTANASession 2025State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Montana requires courts to hear additional care-provider evidence in child abandonment cases

Original title: Revise child abuse and neglect laws involving adjudication

Last action · April 17, 2025: Chapter Number AssignedSponsor: Dennis Lenz

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

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What This Bill Does

Montana requires courts handling child abandonment cases to hear evidence from individuals caring for the child regarding their care, support, and the circumstances of placement. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Why it matters

Expands the legal standing of non-parent caregivers in child welfare proceedings by requiring courts to consider evidence of alternative care, parental intent, and family continuity.

Who It Affects

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

Directly affected

Individuals caring for a child

Non-parent caregivers are explicitly granted the opportunity to present evidence regarding care, support, and placement continuity in abandonment proceedings.

Directly affected

County attorneys and attorney general

Prosecutors alleging abandonment must operate under statutory requirements for courts to receive expanded evidence from non-parent caregivers.

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

What new evidence must courts hear in child abandonment cases?
Courts must hear evidence offered by individuals caring for the child regarding child care, parental intent, continuity of care, and placement circumstances.
When does this law take effect?
The act is effective on passage and approval.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

41 actions
  1. Apr 17, 2025Senate
    Chapter Number Assigned
  2. Apr 16, 2025SenateEnrolled
    (S) Signed by Governor
  3. Apr 8, 2025House
    (H) Signed by Speaker
  4. Apr 8, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to Governor
  5. Apr 2, 2025Senate
    (S) Signed by President
  6. Mar 30, 2025Senate
    (S) Returned from Enrolling
Show 35 earlier actions
  1. Mar 28, 2025Senate
    (S) Sent to Enrolling
  2. Mar 28, 2025House
    (H) 3rd Reading
  3. Mar 28, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  4. Mar 27, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading
  5. Mar 27, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  6. Mar 19, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Report
  7. Mar 18, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Executive Action
  8. Mar 5, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
  9. Feb 22, 2025House
    (H) 1st Reading
  10. Feb 22, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Referred to Committee
  11. Feb 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to House
  12. Feb 21, 2025Senate
    (S) 3rd Reading
  13. Feb 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  14. Feb 20, 2025Senate
    (S) 2nd Reading
  15. Feb 20, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  16. Feb 15, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Report
  17. Feb 14, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Executive Action
  18. Feb 6, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  19. Feb 5, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  20. Jan 31, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
  21. Jan 31, 2025SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  22. Jan 30, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  23. Jan 29, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  24. Jan 29, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  25. Jan 28, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  26. Jan 28, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  27. Jan 28, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  28. Jan 28, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  29. Jan 27, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
  30. Jan 6, 2025House
    (LC) Draft On Hold
  31. Jan 6, 2025House
    (LC) Draft On Hold
  32. Dec 30, 2024House
    (LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
  33. Dec 30, 2024House
    (LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
  34. Nov 6, 2024House
    (LC) Draft On Hold
  35. Oct 4, 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

Dennis LenzSenate · District 25RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

Dennis Lenz
PersonDennis Lenz“Republican Senator, District 25, sponsor of SB 249”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance60
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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