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Stock Albuterol

The Montana State Legislature passed House Bill 600 (HB 600) during the 2025 legislative session. This amended and reenacted §§ 20-5-420, Sections 1-4 of the Montana Code Annotated, allowing public or nonpublic schools to maintain a supply of stock albuterol, including single-use disposable holding chambers, if necessary, to be administered by a school nurse or other authorized personnel to any student or nonstudent, as needed, for respiratory distress, effective July 1, 2025. The new legislation means that Montana schools are allowed, but not required, to possess and administer stock albuterol. The stock albuterol supply may be used on any student or non-student experiencing respiratory distress, whether there is a known diagnosis of asthma or not. The new legislation is not intended to replace the responsibility of a child’s parent or guardian providing their child’s rescue medication to the school if there is a known diagnosis of asthma, although the stock albuterol can be used in instances where the inhaler can’t be located or was left at home, if the inhaler is empty or is expired, or when use of the stock albuterol would expedite the process of albuterol administration in an emergent situation.

Billings Public Schools, in order to improve student safety, has developed a protocol for stock albuterol in accordance with amended Montana Code Annotated 20-5-420.  

In accordance with the law, a BPS Registered Nurse will provide training annually to all designated personnel authorized to administer albuterol.  The training includes the following: causes of respiratory distress, recognition of signs and symptoms of mild, moderate and severe respiratory distress, indications for the administration of albuterol, the administration technique, and the need for immediate access to a certified emergency responder.

Our goal is threefold:

  1. To initiate treatment that might otherwise be delayed.
  2. To lessen symptoms, which are understandably frightening to a student.
  3. To possibly prevent progression to severe respiratory distress.

A parent will always be notified should a student be determined to have symptoms of respiratory distress and stock albuterol is administered. 911 will also be called if a student does not have a diagnosis of asthma and/or the student is in severe respiratory distress and albuterol is not having the necessary effect.