HB 395 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise voting laws related to individuals of unsound mind

HB 395 proposed updating Montana's legal definitions related to voting eligibility for individuals with mental health conditions. It aimed to revise the definitions of "unsound mind" and "mental health facility" in voting law, specifically amending sections of Montana Code Annotated (MCA) that govern voter eligibility. The bill did not change voting procedures or eligibility rules itself but focused solely on clarifying terminology used in existing voting statutes. As a definitional amendment, it was considered procedural rather than substantive. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.
Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC0499.pdf HB0395_1.pdf · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from LC 0499 to HB 395 and updated with an authorized print version header. A new definition was added to clarify that 'election administrator' includes individuals designated by county governing bodies for school elections not administered by the county, expanding the scope of who can be considered an election administrator.
Scope change
The bill's scope was slightly expanded by including designated individuals for school elections within the definition of 'election administrator'.
DEFINITION

Added a specific provision to the definition of 'election administrator' to include individuals designated by a county governing body for school elections not administered by the county.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill identifier from LC 0499 to HB 395 and updated the header to reflect the authorized print version.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2025 · House Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

4010
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 15, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
22 Yea 10 Nay
68% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
34
Key actions
6
Committee
6
Apr 15, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (40-10)
senate
Apr 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) State Administration
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) State Administration
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration
upper
Feb 24, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (54-45-1)
house
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) State Administration
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) State Administration
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Feb 5, 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