---
type: "Bill"
title: "Revise laws related to appointment of special advocates in abuse and neglect cases"
description: "Revise laws related to appointment of special advocates in abuse and neglect cases"
jurisdiction: "us/states/mt"
legislature: "Montana Legislature"
session: "2025"
identifier: "SB 464"
citation: "Montana SB 464 (2025)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Family Law", "Minors"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Dennis Lenz"]
version_count: 59
action_count: 47
vote_count: 9
first_action: "2024-10-04T19:58:11+00:00"
last_action: "2025-05-13T13:43:51+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/4228d20c-0a98-41ac-8cbc-a0cc67eece54"
source_url: "https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0477?open_tab=sum"
source_hash: "a1cc0fa3d30ec27bf37a3ca54c926b9339057926d466c7fc3c88c738c1e91ef7"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-mt"]
---

# Montana SB 464 (2025) — Revise laws related to appointment of special advocates in abuse and neglect cases

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **LC0477.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=286511)
2. **SB0464.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=291757)
3. **SB0464.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=291758)
4. **SB0464.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=298085)
5. **SB0464.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=298086)
6. **SB0464.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=298083)
7. **SB0464_1(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=287868)
8. **SB0464_1(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292645)
9. **SB0464_1(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292646)
10. **SB0464_1(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292647)
11. **SB0464_1(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292648)
12. **SB0464_1.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=287124)
13. **SB0464_2(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292652)
14. **SB0464_2(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=293530)
15. **SB0464_2(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=293698)
16. **SB0464_2(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300875)
17. **SB0464_2(13).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300876)
18. **SB0464_2(14).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300877)
19. **SB0464_2(15).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300878)
20. **SB0464_2(16).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=301201)
21. **SB0464_2(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292655)
22. **SB0464_2(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292656)
23. **SB0464_2(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292663)
24. **SB0464_2(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292665)
25. **SB0464_2(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292666)
26. **SB0464_2(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292667)
27. **SB0464_2(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292668)
28. **SB0464_2(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292673)
29. **SB0464_2.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292649)
30. **SB0464_3(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300880)
31. **SB0464_3(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300881)
32. **SB0464_3(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300882)
33. **SB0464_3(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300953)
34. **SB0464_3(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300954)
35. **SB0464_3(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=301164)
36. **SB0464_3(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=309033)
37. **SB0464_3(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=311316)
38. **SB0464_3(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=311320)
39. **SB0464_3.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300879)
40. **SB0464_X(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=311329)
41. **SB0464_X(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312554)
42. **SB0464_X(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312555)
43. **SB0464_X(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=317090)
44. **SB0464_X(13).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=320656)
45. **SB0464_X(14).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322685)
46. **SB0464_X(15).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322686)
47. **SB0464_X(16).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322687)
48. **SB0464_X(17).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=324954)
49. **SB0464_X(18).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=325839)
50. **SB0464_X(19).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=327352)
51. **SB0464_X(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=311330)
52. **SB0464_X(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312127)
53. **SB0464_X(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312135)
54. **SB0464_X(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312143)
55. **SB0464_X(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312144)
56. **SB0464_X(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312145)
57. **SB0464_X(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312146)
58. **SB0464_X(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312147)
59. **SB0464_X.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=311323)

## Votes

- Do Pass As Amended — **47–3** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **40–9** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **48–2** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **48–1** (pass) · upper
- AMD-SB0464.001.001 Lenz D/PASS — **50–0** (pass) · upper
- do_pass — **6–5** (pass) · upper
- Do Concur — **89–11** (pass) · lower
- be_concurred_in_as_amended — **18–3** (pass) · lower
- Do Concur — **90–9** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Dennis Lenz — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2024-10-04T19:58:11+00:00** (LC) Drafter Assigned
- **2024-10-09T17:02:43+00:00** (LC) Draft On Hold
- **2024-10-23T01:08:24+00:00** (LC) Draft On Hold
- **2024-10-23T01:08:29+00:00** (LC) Draft On Hold
- **2025-02-06T16:09:43+00:00** (LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
- **2025-02-19T17:51:13+00:00** (LC) Draft in Legal Review
- **2025-02-20T23:34:35+00:00** (LC) Draft in Edit
- **2025-02-24T16:36:07+00:00** (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- **2025-02-24T20:55:21+00:00** (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- **2025-02-24T21:11:55+00:00** (LC) Draft in Assembly
- **2025-02-24T22:53:44+00:00** (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- **2025-02-25T15:27:02+00:00** (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- **2025-02-25T17:38:00+00:00** (S) Introduced
- **2025-02-25T20:47:00+00:00** (S) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-02-26T01:52:19+00:00** (S) Referred to Committee - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety `referral-committee`
- **2025-02-27T21:28:01+00:00** (S) Hearing - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety
- **2025-03-01T04:18:49+00:00** (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety `committee-passage`
- **2025-03-01T18:28:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety `committee-passage`
- **2025-03-05T07:41:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-03-05T16:36:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried `reading-2`
- **2025-03-05T16:40:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Passed as Amended `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-03-06T07:41:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-03-07T01:21:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-03-07T16:18:48+00:00** (S) Transmitted to House
- **2025-03-17T15:23:35+00:00** (H) Referred to Committee - (H) Human Services `referral-committee`
- **2025-03-17T19:15:00+00:00** (H) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-03-19T19:09:41+00:00** (H) Hearing - (H) Human Services
- **2025-03-28T21:52:02+00:00** (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) Human Services
- **2025-04-03T00:17:47+00:00** (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- **2025-04-03T14:44:10+00:00** (S) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
- **2025-04-03T17:05:00+00:00** (H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) Human Services
- **2025-04-10T14:30:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-10T22:11:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Concurred `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-11T21:01:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-11T23:46:00+00:00** (H) 3rd Reading Concurred `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-04-12T01:02:53+00:00** (H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
- **2025-04-14T16:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-14T16:36:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments Concurred `amendment-amendment, amendment-passage, reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-15T19:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-15T22:10:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House `passage, passage, reading-3, reading-3`
- **2025-04-15T22:36:42+00:00** (S) Sent to Enrolling
- **2025-04-16T21:55:53+00:00** (S) Returned from Enrolling
- **2025-04-22T23:00:10+00:00** (S) Signed by President `passage`
- **2025-05-01T18:00:14+00:00** (H) Signed by Speaker `passage`
- **2025-05-01T18:36:33+00:00** (S) Transmitted to Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2025-05-08T14:32:00+00:00** (S) Signed by Governor `executive-signature`
- **2025-05-13T13:43:51+00:00** Chapter Number Assigned `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/4228d20c-0a98-41ac-8cbc-a0cc67eece54`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Montana legislature records).