HB 100 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise public record laws

HB 100 generally revises public record laws, establishing new requirements and deadlines for state public agencies, excluding local governments, when responding to information requests. The bill outlines different response protocols for executive and non-executive branch agencies, including specific timeframes for acknowledging and fulfilling requests. It also revises the fees agencies can charge, allowing them to cover actual costs, including staff time, and permits agencies to require estimated fee payment upfront. Additionally, the bill mandates executive branch agencies to publish their request processes, statistics, and retain requests and responses for two years. Individuals may file a court action if agencies fail to meet the established response deadlines.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Dec 16, 2024 Signed May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 10 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0100_X(2).pdf HB0100_X(3).pdf · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill text was slightly shortened by removing a period at the very end of the title, which is a minor formatting adjustment with no impact on the law's meaning or enforcement.
TECHNICAL

Removed a trailing period from the end of the bill title.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 14, 2025 · House Apr 18, 2025

How they voted

471
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 14, 2025
D Democratic18
16 Yea 1 Nay 1
88% Yea
R Republican32
31 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
52
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 8, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
May 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 18, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (98-0-2)
house
Apr 14, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (47-1-2)
senate
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) State Administration
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) State Administration
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) State Administration
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) State Administration
lower
Dec 20, 2024
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Dec 16, 2024
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bill Mercer
Bill Mercer
RRepublican
MT
52