Monday, March 29 At 3:00, the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee will hear HB 329, “Establish the Students with Special Needs Equal Opportunity Act.” Click here to read this bill. It is sponsored by Rep. Sue Vinton and will be heard in room 422. Click here for the contact information for the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee. Also at 3:00, the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee will hear HB 549, “Revise state suicide reduction plans to include specific military-related data.” Click here to read this bill. It is sponsored by Rep. Kerns and will be heard in room 317. Click here for the contact information for the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Safety Committee. Tuesday, March 30 At 8:00, the House Judiciary Committee will hear HB 625 “Revise laws relating to the child and family ombudsman.” Click here to read this bill. It is sponsored by Rep. Lenz and will be heard in room 137. Will also hear HB 658, “Revise restrictive housing laws.” Click here to read this bill. This bill would allow prison staff to assess the mental health of prisoners in solitary confinement in state prison facilities less frequently, among other things. It is sponsored by Rep. Frazer and will be heard in room 137. Click here for the contact information for the House Judiciary Committee. At 3:00, House Human Services will hear SB 100, “Provide for the welfare fraud prevention act.” Click here to read this bill. Sponsored by Sen. Smith, this bill requires the state to contract with a third-party vendor to manage a system to identify fraud in certain public benefits systems in Montana, including CHIP. People receiving services will be required to reapply for services every 6 months. It will be heard in room 152. It will also hear SB 155, “Provide for equal access to anatomical gifts and organ transplantation.” Click here to read this bill. Sponsored by Sen. Jacobsen, this bill creates a cause of action to challenge disability discrimination in the provision of anatomical gifts and organs. It will be heard in room 152. Click here for the contact information for the House Human Services Committee. Wednesday, March 31 At 8:00 am, the House Judiciary Committee will hear HB 659, “Generally revise criminal laws.” Click here to read this bill. It provides for the appointment for a special master or judge to oversee the expungement process for marijuana offenses included in the recreational marijuana legalization initiative passed last November. It is sponsored by Rep. Olson and will be heard in room 137. Click here for the contact information for the House Judiciary Committee. Thursday, April 1 At 9:00, the Senate Finance and Claims Committee will hear HB 233, “Revise funding for students with disabilities.” Click here to read this bill. This bill would reimburse school districts that provide education services for students with developmental disabilities who are 19 or 20 years old. It will be heard in room 317. Click here for the contact information for the Senate Finance and Claims Committee. | 
