Montana AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Montana law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | Yes | Any entity that uses or allows use of an AED must maintain, test and operate it per the manufacturer's guidelines; meeting this is also a condition of the entity's immunity (§§ 50-6-502(2), 50-6-505(2)). |
| Train expected users | Limited | No training rule for AED programs in general since 2025. |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Yes | Through AED placement reporting: see that row. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | Yes | An entity that uses or allows use of an AED must give written notice of where it is placed to the local public safety answering point (911 center); this is also an immunity condition (§§ 50-6-502(1), 50-6-505(2)). |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in state law. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | Yes | The entity must keep written records of all maintenance and testing done on the AED, and its placement notice to the 911 center must be in writing (§ 50-6-502). |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | Yes | Each time an AED is used on a person in cardiac arrest, the entity must require that EMS be summoned as soon as possible; this is also an immunity condition (§§ 50-6-502(3), 50-6-505(2)). |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Starting in 2026-27, every school district and nonpublic school with an athletic program must have a venue-specific cardiac emergency response plan, standalone or inside its safety plan, for athletic practices and events. It must cover a response team, AEDs at each venue, staff training, yearly drills, EMS integration and yearly review (§ 20-7-1339(3)). |
| Other requirements | Limited | No other general duty. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | School sports. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Montana?
No. Montana law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
Only in certain settings. Montana doesn’t require training for AED owners in general, but the law names some settings that must train people.
No training rule for AED programs in general since 2025.
Before each season, coaches of school youth athletic activities must hold CPR, first aid and AED certification (§ 20-7-1339(4)).
From 2026-27, school cardiac plans must include regular hands-on CPR, first aid and AED training for staff (§ 20-7-1339(3)(b)(v)).
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
Yes. Montana law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
Any entity that uses or allows use of an AED must maintain, test and operate it per the manufacturer's guidelines; meeting this is also a condition of the entity's immunity (§§ 50-6-502(2), 50-6-505(2)).
School athletic-venue AEDs must be tested and maintained per the manufacturer (§ 20-7-1339(3)(b)(iii)).
Written plan and records: The entity must keep written records of all maintenance and testing done on the AED, and its placement notice to the 911 center must be in writing (§ 50-6-502). From 2026-27, schools with athletic programs need a cardiac emergency response plan or protocol in their safety plan (§ 20-7-1339(3)).
In practice, that means check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
Yes. Montana requires AED owners to tell EMS, or another agency the law names, that they have an AED and where it is.
Placement reporting: An entity that uses or allows use of an AED must give written notice of where it is placed to the local public safety answering point (911 center); this is also an immunity condition (§§ 50-6-502(1), 50-6-505(2)). School cardiac plans must tell the local EMS provider each AED's type and location (§ 20-7-1339(3)(b)(iii)).
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
Yes. Montana law requires the person who uses an AED to call 911 or notify EMS.
Calling 911: Each time an AED is used on a person in cardiac arrest, the entity must require that EMS be summoned as soon as possible; this is also an immunity condition (§§ 50-6-502(3), 50-6-505(2)).
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in Montana
Yes. Montana law requires AEDs at one kind of site.
- Athletic venues and events at schools with an athletic program (from the 2026-27 school year) Mont. Code Ann. § 20-7-1339 (2025 Mont. Laws ch. 742, H.B. 869)
School cardiac emergency plans: Starting in 2026-27, every school district and nonpublic school with an athletic program must have a venue-specific cardiac emergency response plan, standalone or inside its safety plan, for athletic practices and events. It must cover a response team, AEDs at each venue, staff training, yearly drills, EMS integration and yearly review (§ 20-7-1339(3)).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Other Montana AED rules
No other general duty.
From 2026-27, school athletic-venue AEDs must be clearly marked, kept unlocked and easy to reach, and available during the school day and at every school-sponsored athletic event or practice (§ 20-7-1339(3)(b)(iii)).
Does Montana's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes, with conditions. Montana protects people who use an AED in good faith, but some of that protection depends on the AED program meeting the law’s duties.
What the Montana (MT) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who gives emergency care at the scene in good faith without being paid can’t be held liable for civil damages except for gross negligence or willful or wanton acts. Volunteer firefighters, search and rescue volunteers, trained volunteer ambulance workers whose reimbursement stays under set limits, and on-duty National Guard members are included.
AED-specific protection: A person who uses an AED in line with Montana's AED law, or gives CPR alongside it, is protected unless grossly negligent or willful or wanton, and no training is required. The entity running the AED program is protected only if it has met the program duties: notice to the 911 center, manufacturer-based upkeep with written records, and requiring an EMS call.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Montana’s official legislature or code website.
- Mont. Code Ann. §§ 50-6-501 to 50-6-506 (as amended by 2025 Mont. Laws ch. 66, S.B. 86): Automated External Defibrillator Programs
- Mont. Code Ann. § 27-1-714: Limits on liability for emergency care rendered at scene of accident or emergency
- Mont. Code Ann. § 20-7-1339 (2025 Mont. Laws ch. 742, H.B. 869): Cardiac arrest response for youth athletes; requirements of schools
- 2025 Mont. Laws ch. 66 (S.B. 86): An act generally revising automatic external defibrillator program laws
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in Montana
AED Log keeps the records Montana law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- Responders’ CPR and AED cards, with an alert before each expires (certification tracking)
- A report for every AED use, so the details are on record (incident reporting)
- Registrations, EMS notices and your written plan, filed with the AEDs they cover (document management)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
Montana AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Montana?
No. Montana law requires AEDs only at school sports, not at businesses in general, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does Montana law require an AED?
Montana law requires AEDs in school sports. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Montana?
No. Montana law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in Montana?
Only in certain settings. No training rule for AED programs in general since 2025. Before each season, coaches of school youth athletic activities must hold CPR, first aid and AED certification (§ 20-7-1339(4)).
Does Montana law require AED inspections?
Yes. Any entity that uses or allows use of an AED must maintain, test and operate it per the manufacturer's guidelines; meeting this is also a condition of the entity's immunity. School athletic-venue AEDs must be tested and maintained per the manufacturer.
Do you have to register an AED in Montana?
There’s no formal registration, but you must report the AED. An entity that uses or allows use of an AED must give written notice of where it is placed to the local public safety answering point (911 center); this is also an immunity condition (§§ 50-6-502(1), 50-6-505(2)).
What does Montana law require after an AED is used?
Each time an AED is used on a person in cardiac arrest, the entity must require that EMS be summoned as soon as possible; this is also an immunity condition (§§ 50-6-502(3), 50-6-505(2)).
Are AEDs required in Montana schools?
Montana law requires AEDs at athletic venues and events at schools with an athletic program (from the 2026-27 school year).
Do Montana schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Starting in 2026-27, every school district and nonpublic school with an athletic program must have a venue-specific cardiac emergency response plan, standalone or inside its safety plan, for athletic practices and events.
Do gyms in Montana need an AED?
No. Montana law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What does the Montana Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who gives emergency care at the scene in good faith without being paid can’t be held liable for civil damages except for gross negligence or willful or wanton acts.
Does the Montana Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes, with conditions. A user acting under the AED law is protected unless grossly negligent or willful or wanton; the program entity only if it notified the PSAP, maintained and logged the AED, and required EMS calls (MCA 50-6-505, 50-6-502).
Which Montana laws cover AEDs?
Montana’s AED rules come from Mont. Code Ann. §§ 50-6-501 to 50-6-506 (as amended by 2025 Mont. Laws ch. 66, S.B. 86); Mont. Code Ann. § 27-1-714; Mont. Code Ann. § 20-7-1339 (2025 Mont. Laws ch. 742, H.B. 869); and 2025 Mont. Laws ch. 66 (S.B. 86), each linked to its official text on this page.