SB 200 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise cooperative laws

SB 200 generally revises laws governing cooperative associations in Montana. It establishes rights and privileges for out-of-state cooperative associations, including those from federally recognized Indian tribes, allowing them to operate within the state. The bill clarifies that cooperative associations organized under specific chapters can be either for-profit or not-for-profit. Additionally, it restricts the use of the term "cooperative" for other types of business registrations, such as LLCs or standard corporations, unless they are formed under specific cooperative laws, imposing fines for violations.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed Apr 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0200_2(10).pdf SB0200_X.pdf · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Montana's cooperative laws to modernize formatting and clarify that out-of-state cooperatives have the same rights, exemptions, and privileges as in-state cooperatives. It also revises definitions and amends specific sections of the Montana Code Annotated to ensure consistency and clarity in cooperative registration and operation.
Scope change
The bill expands applicability to explicitly include out-of-state cooperatives under Montana law, granting them the same rights and privileges as in-state cooperatives.
DEFINITION

Added 'OUT-OF-STATE COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION' to the bill title and amended section 35-17-103 to define 'out-of-state' entities as those governed by laws other than Montana's, including federally recognized Indian tribes.

REQUIREMENT

Amended section 2-15-401 to clarify restrictions on registering entities using the term 'cooperative' unless they are organized under specific Montana cooperative chapters or filed under certain provisions.

Updated section 35-17-104 to maintain the requirement that five or more persons engaged in agricultural production may form a nonprofit cooperative association.

Revised section 35-17-202 to specify content requirements for articles of incorporation for cooperatives formed under the chapter.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting inconsistencies, updated bill numbering from SB0200.2 to SB 200, and changed document status from Authorized Print Version to Enrolled Bill.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2025 · House Apr 2, 2025

How they voted

500
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 4, 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
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 2, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (95-0-5)
house
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) State Administration
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) State Administration
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0)
senate
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) State Administration
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) State Administration
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Butch Gillespie
Butch Gillespie
RRepublican
MT
9