Starting tomorrow, Montana’s Child Passenger Safety Law’s rebrand becomes official – parents and caregivers will have new legal requirements for what kind of car seat they must place children in based on their age and size.
Children under the age of 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat; kids ages 2 to 4 can use a rear or a forward-facing car seat with a harness, though it’s recommended to keep children rear-facing as long as possible. Those age 4 to 8 are required to use a forward-facing seat with a harness or a booster seat, based on their size. Finally, once you’ve turned 9, or you’ve outgrown the booster, you’re allowed to level up to an adult seat belt – on the condition that it fits you correctly.
Montana has had a car seat law since the late ‘80s, requiring that children under 6 years of age or those that weigh less than 60 pounds endure car rides in a secure seat. The law received a couple of updates in the early 2000s, but House Bill 586, that passed during the 2025 legislative session, is the first time the law’s received a major facelift.
State Rep. Marc Lee, the Butte Democrat who got the ball rolling on the new bill, said it’s all about safety.
“This new law reflects the best practices in child passenger safety. It was written with one goal in mind, and that is child protection,” Lee stated in a release about the law. “It was written to put our most vulnerable in the best pre-crash position possible, if a tragedy strikes.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a properly fitted car seat reduces the risk for serious injury for infants by 71% and 54% for toddlers. Booster seats minimize the same risk by move then 45% for kids age 4 to 8, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As the new Montana law goes into effect Oct. 1, state and county health officials anticipate an uptick in questions from parents about how to properly install and use a car seat. Those with questions can reach out to child passenger safety technicians for help, visit the Flathead City-County Health Department car seat website featuring useful links, or call your local fire department to schedule a car seat inspection.
Here to make sure you’re buckled in before we take off to the rest of today’s Daily Roundup, I’m Zoë Buhrmaster. Let’s see what else is happening on this rainy day in the Flathead Valley.
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