HB 702 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise laws relating to criminal acts

HB 702 creates a new crime for operating drones over Montana correctional facilities without permission, punishable by 1-5 years in prison. It revises assault laws to specifically include intentionally making bodily fluid contact with correctional staff, healthcare providers, or emergency responders during arrests, incarceration, or transport. The bill also updates rules for possessing or transferring prohibited items (like cellphones, drugs, or weapons) into prisons, with harsher penalties for weapons (up to 20 years) and drugs (up to 10 years), while adding clarity about notice requirements for minor contraband. These changes directly affect prison staff, inmates, visitors, and anyone near correctional facilities.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC3564.pdf HB0702_1.pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from LC 3564 to HB 702.1 and the sponsor was added. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new definition for 'arrest warrant' to clarify legal terminology. Minor formatting adjustments were made to section headers and numbering.
DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'arrest warrant' to clarify that it is a written court order directed to a peace officer or other official.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title from LC 3564 to HB 702.1 and added the primary sponsor's name.

Adjusted section numbering and formatting, including merging subsections (b) and (c) into a single line.

Floor votes · House Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

6236
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 100
Mar 5, 2025
D Democratic42
5 Yea 36 Nay 1
85% Nay
R Republican58
57 Yea 1
98% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
34
Key actions
5
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Apr 9, 2025
Amended
(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Mar 5, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (62-36-2)
house
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Appropriations
lower
Mar 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
lower
Mar 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Kerri Seekins-Crowe
Kerri Seekins-Crowe
RRepublican
MT
39