Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB128: Protect volunteer emergency service providers from termination
Status: Signed into law, April 17, 2025
What the bill says
An act protecting volunteer emergency service providers from termination by a public or private employer under certain conditions; and providing for a legal cause of action for wrongful termination.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT PROTECTING VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM TERMINATION BY A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EMPLOYER UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR A LEGAL CAUSE OF ACTION FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION. Section 1. Termination of volunteer emergency services provider prohibited -- conditions -- definition. (1) An agency may not terminate the employment of an employee who has completed the employee's probationary period because the employee has elected to serve as a volunteer emergency services provider or joined a volunteer emergency unit or organization, including but not limited to a municipal, rural, or subscription fire department. (2) An employee who serves as a volunteer emergency services provider before [the effective date of this section] shall provide the agency with a written notification of the service within 30 days of [the effective date of this section]. An employee who joins a volunteer emergency unit or organization after [the effective date of this section] shall provide the agency with written notification within 30 days of joining the unit or organization. An employee hired by an agency shall provide the agency with written notification that the employee is a volunteer emergency services provider within 30 days of hire. (3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1), after written notification is provided, the agency may not terminate the employment of a volunteer emergency services provider if the …
Sponsors
- Jones, Llew (R, 18) · primary sponsor
- Hunter, Gregg (R, 15)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 1, 2025): 35 yea, 15 nay, passed
- Do Concur (March 31, 2025): 36 yea, 14 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 3, 2025): 97 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 31, 2025): 96 yea, 3 nay, passed
Subjects: Courts, Fires and Fire Protection, Emergency Services, Labor and Employment
Common questions
- What is HB128?
- HB128 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Protect volunteer emergency service providers from termination.
- What does HB128 do?
- In its own words: An act protecting volunteer emergency service providers from termination by a public or private employer under certain conditions; and providing for a legal cause of action for wrongful termination.
- What is the status of HB128?
- Signed into law as of April 17, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 13, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB128?
- Jones, Llew (R, 18), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB128?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0941
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.