Generally revise eligibility for disabled parking permit laws
Summary
SB 547 revises Montana’s disability parking permit laws by adding a new category of eligibility for pregnant women. Under the bill, a woman who is pregnant and certified by a licensed physician, certified midwife, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse could receive a temporary disability parking permit for up to one year. The bill also keeps the existing framework for permanent and temporary disability placards and license plates, including the medical criteria used to determine eligibility and the rules for renewal and issuance.
The bill requires the Department of Justice to collect a $10 fee for each temporary disability parking permit issued to a pregnant woman, and those fees would be deposited into the state general fund. It also preserves the department’s authority to issue permits to transportation providers serving people with disabilities, while continuing the general rule that an applicant may not receive more than one permit except in that transportation-provider context. The bill would take effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 547 would amend section 49-4-301, MCA, by expanding the statutory definition of who may qualify for a temporary disability parking permit and by creating a new fee-and-revenue provision tied specifically to pregnancy-based permits. It would affect the Department of Justice’s permit-issuance procedures, medical certification requirements, and state revenue by directing the $10 fee into the general fund. The bill would also indirectly affect pregnant drivers seeking closer parking access, as well as medical providers authorized to certify eligibility.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests limited support in committee, but not enough to advance the bill. The Senate Highways and Transportation Committee voted 6-0 to table the bill, and the measure ultimately died in process. No committee transcript is available, so the recorded vote is the main indicator of sentiment; it shows unanimous committee agreement to set the bill aside rather than move it forward.
Contention
The likely point of contention is whether pregnancy should be treated as a qualifying condition for a disability parking permit, even on a temporary basis. Supporters appear to have framed the bill as a practical accommodation for pregnant women, while opponents or undecided members may have been concerned about expanding a disability program beyond traditional mobility-limiting conditions, as well as the appropriateness of charging a fee for the new permit. The unanimous tabling vote indicates the committee was not persuaded to advance the proposal.