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SB 553MONTANASession 2025State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Montana Revises State Policy Laws to Regulate Travel Credits, Infrastructure Cost-Sharing, and Legislative Reporting

Original title: Generally revise state policy laws

Last action · May 16, 2025: Chapter Number AssignedSponsor: Daniel Zolnikov

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 enacts SB 553 to prohibit expiration dates and dormancy fees on airline travel credits, establish rules for residential development cost-sharing and park dedications, rename the Energy and Telecommunications , and update statutory reporting requirements across state agencies.

Why it matters

Consumers retain permanent ownership of airline travel credits without fear of expiration or fee reductions, and developers gain clear frameworks for capital facility cost-sharing and park land dedications.

Background
  • SB 553 was introduced during the 2025 regular session of the 69th Montana Legislature and signed into law in May 2025. context

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

Consumers and Airline Travelers

Airline travel credits issued to consumers are protected from expiration dates and dormancy fees, and remain the property of the possessor in bankruptcy proceedings.

Directly affected

Residential Subdividers

Subdividers are subject to revised park dedication requirements and may participate in cost-sharing arrangements for capital facility extensions.

Directly affected

Local Governments

Local governing bodies gain authority to enact rules for residential development cost sharing and administer park land or cash dedication requirements.

Directly affected

Public Utilities and Cooperatives

Utilities are subject to universal system benefits program requirements, annual reporting mandates, and potential cost contributions for geothermal research.

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 happens to my airline travel credit if the airline goes bankrupt?
The travel credit is considered trust property of the possessor, and the value belongs to the possessor rather than the issuer or seller.
Can travel credits be reduced by dormancy or maintenance fees?
No. Travel credits may not be reduced in value by any fee, including dormancy fees.
Can I get cash for a small remaining balance on a travel credit?
Yes, if the original credit value was more than $5, the remaining value is less than $5, and you request cash, the issuer must redeem it.
What is the new name of the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee?
It is renamed the Energy and Technology .

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

55 actions
  1. May 16, 2025Senate
    Chapter Number Assigned
  2. May 13, 2025SenateEnrolled
    (S) Signed by Governor
  3. May 5, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to Governor
  4. May 5, 2025House
    (H) Signed by Speaker
  5. May 2, 2025Senate
    (S) Signed by President
  6. May 1, 2025Senate
    (S) Returned from Enrolling
Show 49 earlier actions
  1. Apr 29, 2025Senate
    (S) Sent to Enrolling
  2. Apr 29, 2025Senate
    (S) 3rd Reading House Amendments
  3. Apr 29, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  4. Apr 28, 2025Senate
    (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments
  5. Apr 28, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  6. Apr 25, 2025House
    (H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
  7. Apr 25, 2025House
    (H) 3rd Reading
  8. Apr 25, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  9. Apr 24, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Report
  10. Apr 23, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Executive Action
  11. Apr 23, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
  12. Apr 23, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Referred to Committee
  13. Apr 23, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading
  14. Apr 23, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading Motion to Amend
  15. Apr 23, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  16. Apr 23, 2025House
    (H) Reconsidered Previous Action
  17. Apr 22, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading
  18. Apr 22, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  19. Apr 18, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Report
  20. Apr 18, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Executive Action
  21. Apr 11, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
  22. Apr 8, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Printed
  23. Apr 8, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
  24. Apr 8, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
  25. Apr 7, 2025House
    (H) 1st Reading
  26. Apr 7, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Referred to Committee
  27. Apr 7, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Received
  28. Apr 5, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to House
  29. Apr 5, 2025Senate
    (S) 3rd Reading
  30. Apr 5, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  31. Apr 4, 2025Senate
    (S) 2nd Reading
  32. Apr 4, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  33. Apr 2, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Report
  34. Apr 2, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Executive Action
  35. Apr 2, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Requested
  36. Mar 28, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  37. Mar 28, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing Canceled
  38. Mar 27, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  39. Mar 27, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  40. Mar 27, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
  41. Mar 26, 2025SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  42. Mar 26, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  43. Mar 26, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  44. Mar 26, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  45. Mar 26, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  46. Mar 26, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  47. Mar 24, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  48. Mar 24, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  49. Jan 3, 2025House
    (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

Daniel ZolnikovSenate · District 22RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift95% confidence

Enhanced Consumer Protection for Travel Credits

SB 553 establishes clear property rights for airline travel credit holders, protecting them from expiration and bankruptcy loss.

Consumer

Connected Entities

Daniel Zolnikov, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, State Library and 4 more
PersonDaniel Zolnikov“Republican Senator representing District 22 and sponsor of SB 553.”Map →
OrganizationMontana Bureau of Mines and Geology“Authorized to conduct geothermal research under specific conditions.”Map →
OrganizationState Library“Entity authorized to use the 9-1-1 GIS mapping fund.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Justice“Department defined under consumer protection provisions.”Map →
OrganizationBoard of Investments“Board required to submit annual reports on unified investment programs.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Transportation“State agency authorized to establish rules for residential development cost shar”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Administration“Agency collaborating on high-performance building programs and annual reports.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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