2025 Legislative Updates - Montana Nurses Association

WHAT WE ARE MONITORING:

Department of labor change in licensing rules
Any attacks on collective bargaining rights
Workplace environment issues (Patient safety, infectious disease, workplace violence)
Modifications to APRN full-practice authority

WHAT WE ARE SUPPORTING: “support legislation that positively impacts nurses and nursing practice”

Removal of sunset language from current mandatory “reporting of violence against healthcare employees” from law
Medicaid expansion and access to quality and cost-effective healthcare
RN safe staffing standards and eliminate mandatory overtime
Support the State Employee pay plan

WHAT WE ARE OPPOSING: “plan to oppose harmful legislation that negatively impacts nurses and nursing practice”

Anti-Public Health
Nurse licensure compact for APRNs
Right to Work (Protect the Blue-Eyed Nurse Bill and right to collectively bargain)
State Pensions/Longevity
Right to Privacy regarding Healthcare

2025 Legislative Contact & Testimony Info Documents

Important Bill Information

HB 543- “An Act Repealing the Sunset on Reporting and Disclosure of Violence against Healthcare Employees”
- Passed House committee 3.3.2025 unanimously
- CLICK HERE for bill language
- Your Nurse Wears Combat Boots bill from 2023 session HB 590 requires mandatory reporting of violence against healthcare workers
- CLICK HERE to see MNA’s summary of DOJ First year of data
- MNA testified that this is data needed forever more and of the 526 assaults, half were nurses

Safe Staffing Standards

SB 372 Safe Staffing Standards – A bill to enact “Safe Staffing Standards for Registered Professional Nurses and Patients”
- Voted down in committee (did not pass) 3.1.2025
- CLICK HERE for bill language
- CLICK HERE for a flyer with talking points shared with all lawmakers
- We thank Senator Neumann for sponsoring this important legislation, as it remains a TOP priority for our members. Senator Neumann holds a Doctorate in Public Health and resides in Bozeman.

Anti worker laws

SB 376 – An Act to “Establish a Right to Work Act” This bill will DIRECTLY impact your right to collectively bargain and impact the Blue Eyed Nurse Bill, which give registered nurses the right to collectively bargain. This is a direct attack on your professional nurses unions and will impact our power at the bargaining table.
- - Voted down in committee (did not pass) 3.1.2025
  - CLICK HERE to read bill language

SB 94-Revising Labor Laws Relating to Public Funds
- - Voted down in Senate (did not pass) 2.19.2025
  - CLICK HERE for bill language
  - MNA opposes SB 94 and testified in opposition as it doesn’t allow public employees to utilize payroll deduction.

Anti Vaccine Laws-MNA working with Montana Association of School Nurses (MASN)

HB 371- “An Act Prohibiting the Administration of Gene-Based Vaccines into Humans in the State of Montana”
- Voted down in House (did not pass) 2.19.2025
- CLICK HERE for bill language
- MNA and MASN support ensuring that individuals and healthcare providers have the choice to access FDA-approved vaccines to prevent illness and treat disease.
- Click here for Counter to the claims in bill based on scientific evidence.

APRN Compact

HB 526 “Adopt the APRN compact” (Tabled in committee 3.3.2025)
- 3/4/2025 Blast vote fails 44 to 55 bill is dead
- CLICK HERE for bill language
- MNA, along with AANP oppose
- Click here for Joint statement addressing compact concerns for APRNs
- Click here for Key Concerns shared with lawmakers

MNA CEO Video Updates

MNA Legislative update video 3.18.2025 by Vicky Byrd, CEO