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SJ 32MONTANASession 2025State Billpassed chamber

Passed

Montana Legislature requests interim study to revive citizen review boards for child protective services

Original title: Study citizen's review board law for child protective service cases

Last action · May 23, 2025: (H) Died in CommitteeSponsor: Dennis Lenz

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Montana lawmakers request an interim legislative study by September 15, 2026, to examine how to revive and fund the statewide Citizen Review Board Program for child and family services cases. The study must evaluate funding, administrative needs, intergovernmental coordination, statewide standards, and potential state cost savings from reduced court involvement.

Why it matters

The measure directs legislative staff and committees to spend state resources investigating child welfare program structures and reporting policy recommendations to the 70th Legislature.

Background

Citizen review boards are community-based panels designed to review child protection cases and monitor the foster care and child welfare system. context
Interim committees in Montana meet between legislative sessions to study assigned topics and draft legislation for the upcoming session. context

Who It Would Affect

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

Directly affected

Child and Family Services Division

Practices and policies of the division will be reviewed and analyzed as part of the interim study.

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 is the main goal of the requested study?

The study aims to examine how to revive the Citizen Review Board Program for child and family services cases, including funding opportunities, administrative needs, and state cost savings.

When must the study be completed?

All aspects of the study must be concluded prior to September 15, 2026.

Who will receive the final results of the study?

The final results, including findings and recommendations, must be reported to the 70th Legislature.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

25 actions

May 23, 2025HouseCommittee
(H) Died in Committee
Apr 28, 2025HouseCommittee
(H) Tabled in Committee
Apr 25, 2025House
(H) Hearing
Apr 25, 2025House
(H) 1st Reading
Apr 25, 2025HouseCommittee
(H) Referred to Committee
Apr 24, 2025Senate
(S) Transmitted to House

Show 19 earlier actions

Apr 24, 2025Senate
(S) 3rd Reading
Apr 24, 2025Senate
(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Apr 23, 2025Senate
(S) 2nd Reading
Apr 23, 2025Senate
(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Apr 17, 2025SenateCommittee
(S) Committee Report
Apr 16, 2025SenateCommittee
(S) Committee Executive Action
Apr 15, 2025Senate
(S) Hearing
Apr 10, 2025SenateCommittee
(S) Referred to Committee
Apr 10, 2025SenateIntroduced
(S) Introduced
Apr 10, 2025House
(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
Apr 10, 2025House
(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
Apr 10, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Assembly
Apr 9, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
Apr 9, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
Apr 7, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Edit
Apr 7, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Legal Review
Apr 7, 2025House
(LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
Oct 29, 2024House
(LC) Draft On Hold
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.

Connected Entities

57th Montana Legislature, 70th Legislature, 53rd Montana Legislature and 2 more

Organization57th Montana Legislature“Made the citizen review board program permanent and expanded it statewide.”Map →

Organization70th Legislature“Body to receive the final results of the study.”Map →

Organization53rd Montana Legislature“Established the Citizen Review Board Program Act in 1993.”Map →

OrganizationLegislative Council“Requested to designate an interim committee or direct staff resources for the st”Map →

OrganizationChild and Family Services Division“Practices and policies to be reviewed by citizen review boards under the study.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance35
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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