MVMA represents members throughout 2025 Legislative Session

Montana's 69th Legislative Session convened on January 6, and adjourned April 30, 2025. MVMA has been the voice of Montana's veterinary community throughout the Session. MVMA lobbyists and staff maintained a “MVMA Bill Tracking List” to identify bills we sensed may affect our members. As the bill contents were available, they were reviewed by MVMA lobbyists and shared with the MVMA board and Legislative Committee to help establish an official MVMA position: “Monitor,” “Oppose,” “Support” or “Support with Amendments.”

MVMA Bill Tracking List

NOTE: You must have member login credentials to view the Bill Tracking List. For assistance, email [email protected].

The 2025 Legislative Session was two days shorter than the 2023 session and adjourned five days before the constitutionally-allowed 90-day session.  Overall, the 2025 Montana Legislature officially introduced 1,520  bills, compared to 1,698 bills introduced in the 2023 session.  

MVMA's Legislative successes attributed to leadership, members

We are pleased to report that MVMA experienced a successful legislative session. A big thanks to the MVMA Executive Board and members of the MVMA Legislative Committee who helped establish positions on bills, discussed legislative strategies and attended hearings to speak in support of MVMA's position on bills before the Montana Legislature. MVMA also appreciates all members who engaged in the legislative process. Your participation was critical in both helping us defeat bad legislation and supporting positive bills for Montana's veterinarians. 

Key 2025 Bill Highlights:

• Senate Resolution 45—Passed.  A Resolution to Confirm Governor Appointees to Board of Veterinary Medicine.  This resolution called for Senate approval of three people the Governor recommends be appointed or reappointed to the Board of Veterinary Medicine. These include MVMA members Garrett Ryerson, DVM, and Tia Nelson, DVM, as well as Joshua Donald as Public Member. MVMA supported this resolution. 
• SB 475:  Failed.  A Bill To Prohibit Aluminum in Vaccines. This confusing bill would have prohibited numerous vaccines used in Montana and banned the sale of vaccines commonly used for animal care. MVMA opposed this bill along with the Montana Farm Bureau, Montana Chamber of Commerce, the MMA and many others. The bill was tabled in committee.
• House Bill 860—Passed.  A bill establishing a DVM education loan program for Montana students committed to working in underserved rural areas. MVMA supported this bill as a way to address the veterinary shortages seen around the state. It passed the legislature and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.
• HB 867—Passed. A bill to establish a medical assistance program under the Board of Veterinary Medicine. In line with MVMA committee discussion last fall, this bill offers resources to licensees seeking treatment for addiction or mental illness. Similar programs exist with other state licensing boards. MVMA supported this bill, which passed the legislature and is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
• HB 41- Passed.  Generally, revise dangerous drug schedule. This bill classifies Gabapentin as a Schedule V drug in Montana. It was introduced by Attorney General Austin Knudsen and is supported by law enforcement officials across the state as an effort to curb increasing problems they are seeing related to the use and abuse of gabapentin. MVMA did approach the supporters to discuss a veterinary exemption to the measure but they did not concur, so veterinarians who use gabapentin will have to take the same logging and reporting steps similar to when they use other controlled substances. The bill passed the legislature and has been signed by the Governor, officially going into effect on October 1, 2025.
• HB 78:  Passed.  Adopt pet insurance model act. It passed the Legislature and has been signed by the Governor.   It goes into effect October 1, 2025.   MVMA supported this measure.
• HB 418:   Failed.   A bill to ban mRNA vaccines in Montana for animals. The bill was tabled in the House Ag Committee and died.   MVMA opposed the bill.

No Bill Introduced on Mid-Level Practitioner

LC 3353: Failed. This was a bill draft to pursue the idea of a Mid-Level Veterinary Practitioner in Montana similar to the initiative passed in Colorado and was opposed by MVMA. After MVMA discussions with the bill requester that such a bill did not have consensus and would be opposed by MVMA, this draft never became an official bill and did not make the required transmittal deadline.  As a result, it died in the process.