Helena, Mont. (Jan. 30, 2025) – Today, Rep. Courtenay Sprunger (R-Kalispell) introduced House Bill 289, a crucial measure to protect children from exposure to lethal drugs. The bill explicitly criminalizes the knowing exposure of children to fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, addressing a dangerous gap in Montana law.
Under current statutes, child endangerment laws apply to methamphetamine but do not include other deadly substances like fentanyl, heroin, or cocaine. House Bill 289 modernizes Section 45-5-622, MCA, to ensure law enforcement and county attorneys can hold offenders accountable.
"Montana’s drug crisis has evolved, and our laws must keep up," said Rep. Sprunger. "We’ve seen heartbreaking cases where children are exposed to lethal drugs, and right now, the only charge available is misdemeanor possession. That’s unacceptable."

A Growing Crisis
Montana communities have witnessed devastating cases of child exposure to dangerous drugs. Numerous Montana county attorneys, leading law enforcement, and DPPHS testified in favor of this bill noting the serious exposures and even fatalities of children due to exposure to these drugs. (See January 30 House Judiciary Committee hearing for detailed testimony.) These are not isolated incidents—they reflect a larger crisis. A study from Florida Atlantic University found that infant deaths linked to drug exposure more than doubled between 2018 and 2022.
What House Bill 289 Does
House Bill 289 closes a loophole in Montana law by ensuring that exposing a child to fentanyl, heroin, or cocaine is treated as child endangerment—not just simple drug possession.
· Expands existing child endangerment laws to cover today’s most dangerous drugs
proliferating through Montana communities.
· Provides law enforcement with the right tool to prosecute those who knowingly expose children to lethal substances.
· Aligns Montana law with the severity of the crisis, ensuring children have legal protections from these highly addictive drugs.
Broad Support from Law Enforcement
Montana County Attorney Association, Montana Sheriff and Peace Officers Association, Montana Police Protection Association, and Montana Department of Health and Human Services all back the bill, emphasizing its importance in protecting children. No opponents were present at the first hearing in House Judiciary on January 30.
"This legislation is a straightforward, common-sense fix," said Rep. Sprunger. "Children don’t choose to live in dangerous environments—we have a duty to protect them."
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