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SB 503MONTANASession 2025State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Montana allows emergency use of expired opioid antagonists and grants liability protections

Original title: Allow use of expired opioid antagonists

Last action · May 13, 2025: Chapter Number AssignedSponsor: Cora Neumann

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

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

Montana law now permits school employees, s, and medical practitioners to possess, store, distribute, and administer expired s during a suspected overdose. The legislation provides civil and professional liability protections for these groups, except in cases of , willful misconduct, or intentional torts.

Why it matters

Schools and community members can utilize expired overdose-reversal medications without facing civil lawsuits or professional disciplinary action, provided they act in good faith.

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

School employees and school districts

School staff are granted liability protection when administering expired opioid antagonists to students or nonstudents during an overdose emergency.

Directly affected

Medical practitioners and licensed pharmacists

Practitioners and pharmacists are protected from civil and criminal liability as well as professional disciplinary action for prescribing or dispensing expired opioid antagonists.

Directly affected

Eligible recipients

Individuals authorized to possess and distribute opioid antagonists receive immunity from legal liability when handling expired doses.

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

Can school employees be sued if they administer an expired opioid antagonist?
No, school employees and school districts are immune from liability resulting from the administration of an expired , provided the action does not involve , willful or wanton misconduct, or an intentional tort.
Do standard pharmacy storage laws apply to individuals storing opioid antagonists?
No, the storage of an by an is expressly exempt from pharmacy practice laws and other general drug storage requirements.
What professions receive liability protections under this measure?
Medical practitioners, licensed pharmacists, emergency care providers, and s receive liability protections and immunity from disciplinary action for prescribing, dispensing, distributing, or administering expired s in good faith.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

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

Cora NeumannSenate · District 30DemocraticPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift98% confidence

Expansion of Liability Protections to Expired Medications

The state explicitly extends existing professional and civil immunity frameworks to cover expired opioid antagonists in school and community settings.

Cora Neumann

Connected Entities

S. Howell, L. Smith, United States Food and Drug Administration and 5 more
PersonS. Howell“Legislative sponsor listed in the bill introduction”Map →
PersonL. Smith“Legislative sponsor listed in the bill introduction”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Food and Drug Administration“Approves opioid antagonists and similarly acting drugs”Map →
PersonG. Hertz“Legislative sponsor listed in the bill introduction”Map →
PersonE. Matthews“Legislative sponsor listed in the bill introduction”Map →
PersonCora Neumann“Democratic Senator for District 30 introducing SB 503”Map →
PersonM. Yakawich“Legislative sponsor listed in the bill introduction”Map →
PersonB. Usher“Legislative sponsor listed in the bill introduction”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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