The Montana Department of Revenue has announced important upcoming changes to the state’s Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service (RASS) training requirements. Two recently signed bills — HB 157 and HB 196 — will bring updates to both the structure and content of RASS training programs across the state.
House Bill 157 (Effective January 1, 2026)
This legislation requires two separate RASS training programs based on where employees work:
- On-Premises Consumption: For employees serving alcohol in bars, restaurants, or other establishments where alcohol is consumed on-site.
- Off-Premises Consumption: For employees working in stores or other locations where alcohol is sold but not consumed on-site.
Under HB 157, off-premises training programs must take at least half the time of on-premises programs. This means training providers will need to revise their course structures and potentially develop two separate curricula before the January 2026 effective date.
House Bill 196 (Effective October 2025)
HB 196 updates Montana’s alcohol laws to reflect technological advances in identification verification. The bill requires that RASS training now include instruction on recognizing and handling government-certified digital identification cards.
Additionally, it clarifies that fraudulent use or alteration of digital IDs is considered a violation under state law, similar to tampering with physical IDs.
What This Means for Training Providers
RASS providers will need to update both their curriculum content and delivery structure to meet these new requirements.
- Off-premises programs should be shorter but still meet all required learning outcomes.
- Courses must include content on digital ID verification and related legal responsibilities.
- Updated programs will require approval from the Montana Department of Revenue before implementation.
Questions or Clarifications?
For additional details or to confirm how these changes may affect your program, you can contact:
Kent Haab
Alcoholic Beverage Outreach & Education Specialist
Montana Department of Revenue
📧 KENT.HAAB@mt.gov
📞 (406) 444-4307
🌐 MTRevenue.gov
About NAHCT
The National Association of Hospitality Compliance Trainers (NAHCT) works to keep industry professionals informed about critical changes that affect alcohol, food, and hospitality compliance training.
Membership is free, and we encourage all training providers and compliance professionals to join and stay connected with ongoing regulatory updates and shared best practices.
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