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SB 485MONTANASession 2025State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Montana Requires Correctional Facilities to Provide Free Hygiene and Stationery Products to Inmates

Original title: Generally revise laws related to incarceration

Last action · May 23, 2025: (S) Died in ProcessSponsor: Ellie Boldman

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

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What This Bill Proposed

State and local correctional facilities in Montana are required to provide specific hygiene and stationery products at no cost to confined persons upon admittance and request. The Department of Corrections and detention centers must develop policies for distributing these items, and the measure supersedes state laws.

Why it matters

Inmates receive free soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, feminine hygiene products, envelopes, writing paper, and postage stamps upon request, while local and state correctional facilities absorb the supply costs.

Background
  • Ellie Boldman served as a Democratic member of the Montana Senate, representing District 47 during the 69th legislative session. context
  • State-level unfunded mandate laws in Montana typically require the state to fund any new service or activity mandated for local governments unless explicitly superseded by statute. 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

Persons confined in correctional facilities

Inmates receive specified hygiene and stationery products at no cost upon admission and request.

Directly affected

State and local correctional facilities

Facilities must procure and distribute required hygiene items and develop written policies for availability.

Directly affected

Department of Corrections

The department must ensure both state-run and contracted facilities adhere to the new hygiene and stationery distribution rules.

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 items must correctional facilities provide for free under this bill?
Detention centers and state correctional facilities must provide soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, feminine hygiene products, letter envelopes, writing paper, and postage stamps at no cost upon admittance and request.
Where must facilities display the new distribution policies?
Policies must be provided on admission, included in inmate handbooks, and posted in areas where notices are commonly displayed, common housing areas, and medical care units.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died in committee.

Procedural history

19 actions
  1. May 23, 2025Senate
    (S) Died in Process
  2. Mar 12, 2025Senate
    (S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
  3. Mar 3, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Printed
  4. Mar 3, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
  5. Mar 3, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Received
  6. Mar 3, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Tabled in Committee
Show 13 earlier actions
  1. Feb 26, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  2. Feb 26, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  3. Feb 25, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Requested
  4. Feb 25, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
  5. Feb 25, 2025SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  6. Feb 25, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  7. Feb 24, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  8. Feb 24, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  9. Feb 24, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  10. Feb 23, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  11. Feb 21, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  12. Feb 20, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  13. 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

Ellie BoldmanSenate · District 47DemocraticPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

Legislative Audit Committee, Ellie Boldman, Department of Corrections and 2 more
OrganizationLegislative Audit Committee“Committee that reviews long-term contracts proposed by the department.”Map →
PersonEllie Boldman“Democratic Senator representing District 47, introduced SB 485.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Corrections“State department tasked with managing correctional facilities and adopting rules”Map →
OrganizationLegislative Audit Division“Division that evaluates department contracts and provides recommendations.”Map →
OrganizationState Board of Pardons and Parole“Board whose statutory powers and duties cannot be altered by department rules.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 55)
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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