Section 405(b) occupant protection grant (23 C.F.R. § 1300.21; 23 U.S.C. § 405(b)) ― grant to support certain costs of state occupant protection programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. § 1300.21(f)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Montana Department of Transportation $369,394.32 on October 1, 2025, under the Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant (CFDA 20.616, National Priority Safety Programs) to support state occupant protection programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. § 1300.21(f).

The funding supports costs of Montana's occupant protection initiatives designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Montana qualified for this formula grant by meeting statutory requirements for either a high or low seat belt use category. The award is based on Montana's approved triennial highway safety plan that details problem identification, public participation and engagement, performance measures, and countermeasure strategies, along with an approved annual grant application detailing planned projects using identified countermeasure strategies.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029, with place of performance in Helena, Montana. Section 405(b) funding is apportioned to states and territorial highway safety offices using a statutory apportionment formula. Recipients must retain project records for three years following submission of a final expenditure report, including all project contracts, financial records, and supporting documents pending resolution of any audit findings. NHTSA processes grant applications on a reimbursement basis through electronic transfer of funds for costs incurred.

Section 405(b) funding is available to qualifying states that meet statutory requirements for a high or low seat belt use categories. These funds are apportioned using statutory apportionment formula. These funds are provided to the state and territorial highway safety offices based on an approved triennial highway safety plan that details problem identification, public participation and engagement, performance measures, countermeasure strategies for programming funds and an approved annual grant application that details planned projects using identified countermeasure strategies for programming funds to help reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes.