Revise change of attorney laws for public defenders
HB 46 revises Montana law to allow public defenders appointed under the Montana Public Defender Act to be reassigned by the Office of State Public Defender without requiring client consent or a court order. This change specifically removes the standard "change of attorney" requirements from Section 37-61-403, MCA, which previously applied to all attorneys. The bill directly affects public defenders and their clients in criminal cases handled through Montana's public defender system, streamlining internal reassignments for efficiency. (Signed into law April 7, 2025.)
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Dec 10, 2024
Signed Apr 7, 2025
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What changed between versions
HB0046_X(1).pdf
→
HB0046_X(2).pdf
·
2 edits
MINOR
The document shows minor formatting and spacing adjustments to the bill text, such as removing extra blank lines and standardizing the title header. These changes do not alter the bill's legal content, scope, or policy requirements.
TECHNICAL
Removed extra blank lines at the end of the document.
Adjusted spacing in the 'Signed this' line and the bill number header.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 21, 2025 · House Jan 21, 2025
How they voted
49–1
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 21, 2025
D
Democratic18
100% Yea
R
Republican32
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
39
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 7, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (49-1)
senate
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Judiciary
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Jan 21, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (77-22-1)
house
Jan 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
lower
Dec 20, 2024
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary
lower
Dec 10, 2024
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
James Reavis
DDemocratic
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