HB 269 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Eliminate the organic commodity advisory council

HB 269 eliminates the Organic Commodity Advisory Council and revises the state organic certification program, affecting organic producers, processors, and handlers in Montana. Previously, the program's implementation and the council's establishment were contingent on petitions from the organic industry. The revised bill directly establishes a state organic certification program under the Department of Agriculture's administration. The Department is now authorized to adopt rules, must regularly seek input from the organic industry, and is not obligated to continue the program if it fails to meet budget requirements or if private certifiers provide sufficient coverage.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0269_2(14).pdf HB0269_X.pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was finalized and enrolled for signature, removing draft formatting and adding certification signatures. Substantively, the bill eliminates the Organic Commodity Advisory Council, which previously advised the department on rules, assessments, and enforcement. It also clarifies that the state organic certification program does not apply to producers already certified by other organizations and allows dual certification.
Scope change
The bill's scope is narrowed by removing the requirement to establish an advisory council and by explicitly exempting entities already certified by other programs from the state program.
REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the mandate to create an Organic Commodity Advisory Council to advise on rules, assessments, and enforcement.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a provision stating the state program does not apply to producers, processors, and handlers certified solely by other organic certification programs.

TECHNICAL

Converted the document from a draft version to an enrolled bill, adding certification signatures and removing page headers/footers.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025 · House Feb 11, 2025

How they voted

462
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 10, 2025
D Democratic18
16 Yea 2 Nay
88% Yea
R Republican32
30 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 1, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-2-2)
senate
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation
upper
Feb 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (96-3-1)
house
Feb 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Agriculture
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Agriculture
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Agriculture
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Eric Tilleman
Eric Tilleman
RRepublican
MT
23