Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB261: Generally revise endangering the welfare of children
Status: Signed into law, April 17, 2025
What the bill says
An act generally revising the offense of endangering the welfare of children; establishing that a person commits the offense of endangering the welfare of children by exposing a child to marijuana or dangerous drugs or assisting a child in entering an adult-use dispensary or a place where human trafficking or the production of dangerous drugs is taking place; and amending section 45-5-622, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING THE OFFENSE OF ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN; ESTABLISHING THAT A PERSON COMMITS THE OFFENSE OF ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN BY EXPOSING A CHILD TO MARIJUANA OR DANGEROUS DRUGS OR ASSISTING A CHILD IN ENTERING AN ADULT-USE DISPENSARY OR A PLACE WHERE HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR THE PRODUCTION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS IS TAKING PLACE; AND AMENDING SECTION 45-5-622, MCA. Section 1. Section 45-5-622, MCA, is amended to read: "45-5-622. Endangering welfare of children. (1) (a) A parent, guardian, or other person supervising the welfare of a child less than 18 years old commits the offense of endangering the welfare of children if the parent, guardian, or other person knowingly endangers the child's welfare by violating a duty of care, protection, or support. (b) A parent or guardian of a child does not violate a duty of care, protection, or support by permitting the child to engage in independent activities consistent with the child's intellectual, emotional, and physical maturity, (ii) traveling to and from nearby commercial or recreational facilities; (iii) engaging in outdoor play; (iv) remaining for less than 15 minutes in a vehicle if the temperature inside the vehicle is not or will not become dangerously hot or cold; (v) remaining at home if the parent or guardian: (A) returns home the same day on which …
Sponsors
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7) · primary sponsor
- Kelly, Steven (R, 9)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (March 26, 2025): 80 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Concur (March 25, 2025): 80 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 3, 2025): 46 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 1, 2025): 45 yea, 5 nay, passed
Subjects: Crimes, Criminal Procedure
Common questions
- What is SB261?
- SB261 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise endangering the welfare of children.
- What does SB261 do?
- In its own words: An act generally revising the offense of endangering the welfare of children; establishing that a person commits the offense of endangering the welfare of children by exposing a child to marijuana or dangerous drugs or assisting a child in entering an adult-use dispensary or a place where human trafficking or the production of dangerous drugs is taking place; and amending section 45-5-622, mca.
- What is the status of SB261?
- Signed into law as of April 17, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (April 17, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB261?
- Hertz, Greg (R, 7), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB261?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2975
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.