Legislative accomplishments put Montana first
As the 2025 legislative session wraps up, I’m proud of what we accomplished. It was a long session — full of long nights, hard debates and tough decisions — but in the end, we passed good, meaningful legislation for the people of Montana.
This year, I focused on public safety and cutting unnecessary red tape. I carried four bills that were signed into law, each aimed at improving the lives of Montanans.
House Bill 467 updates our DUI laws by allowing oral fluid testing as an additional tool for law enforcement. It gives officers a faster, more flexible way to detect alcohol or drug impairment and helps keep our roads safer.
With House Bill 468, we overhauled Montana’s watercraft laws. We got rid of the outdated validation decal requirement, simplified the registration process, and made smart updates to boating safety rules. It’s a win for boaters and a step toward reducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
House Bill 493 creates a new felony for knowingly possessing a stolen firearm, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It also adds that offense to our gang activity laws, giving law enforcement more tools to crack down on violent crime and illegal gun trafficking.
While I didn’t sponsor House Bill 267—“Bobby’s Law”—I introduced a similar bill and was proud to support it. The new law creates the offense of aggravated vehicular homicide while under the influence and carries serious, mandatory prison time for those who cause fatal crashes while impaired.
Each of these bills is now law. They reflect Montana values: protecting families, holding criminals accountable and cutting red tape.
I’m proud of the work we did this session — and grateful to my colleagues and constituents for their support along the way. As we adjourn sine die, I’m heading home with a full heart and a renewed commitment to keep fighting for common-sense solutions that put Montanans first.
Rep. Steven Kelly, R-Kalispell, represents House District 9 south of Kalispell including Somers and Lakeside.