HB 248 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise election laws related to voter cancellation

HB 248 revises election laws concerning voter registration cancellation. The bill amends the reasons an election administrator must cancel a voter's registration. It now includes "an obituary" as a source for reporting an elector as deceased, in addition to existing methods like death certificates. Additionally, it specifies that an elector's registration will be canceled if they fail to respond to confirmation mailings, are placed on the inactive list, and subsequently do not vote in two consecutive federal general elections. These revisions directly affect the conditions under which an elector's registration is removed from active rolls.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed Apr 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0248_1(8).pdf HB0248_X.pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled for signature, transitioning from a draft version to an official state document. The core policy change involves updating the legal criteria for voter registration cancellation, specifically adding a provision that allows cancellation if a voter fails to respond to confirmation mailings, is placed on an inactive list, and then fails to vote in two consecutive federal general elections.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on election laws and voter registration cancellation, but the applicability of the cancellation rules has been expanded to include a specific sequence of inactivity events.
ELIGIBILITY

Added a new criterion (subsection 7) that allows election administrators to cancel a voter's registration if they fail to respond to confirmation mailings, are placed on an inactive list, and subsequently fail to vote in two consecutive federal general elections.

TIMELINE

The effective date clause was retained as 'immediate upon passage and approval,' ensuring the new cancellation rules apply right away.

TECHNICAL

Added standard enrolled bill certification text, including signatures for the Chief Clerk, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate, to finalize the legislative process.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2025 · House Feb 7, 2025

How they voted

500
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 1, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
39
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 17, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0)
senate
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) State Administration
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) State Administration
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration
upper
Feb 7, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (97-2-1)
house
Jan 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) State Administration
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) State Administration
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Braxton Mitchell
Braxton Mitchell
RRepublican
MT
5