House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise the laws governing parenting proceedings in Montana, specifically concerning the best interests of children who are transitioning genders. The bill stipulates that a parent's support for a child's gender transition must be considered not in the child's best interests, while a parent's opposition to such a transition may not be viewed as detrimental to the child's best interests. The bill amends Section 40-4-212 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to include new considerations regarding a child's gender transition, equating parental support for transitioning with acts of physical abuse against the child.

The proposed amendments introduce specific criteria for the court to evaluate when determining the best interests of a child in relation to gender transition. These include whether a parent has knowingly encouraged or supported the child's transition, which is deemed not in the child's best interests, and whether a parent has opposed the transition, which cannot be considered against the child's best interests. The bill also establishes an immediate effective date upon passage and approval, indicating the urgency of these changes in the legal framework surrounding parenting and gender identity issues.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 40-4-212
HB0730_1(1): 40-4-212
HB0730_1(2): 40-4-212
HB0730_1: 40-4-212