SB 79 eliminates existing state laws that require the inspection of dead animals found in feedlots. This bill also removes the associated penalties for not conducting these inspections. Specifically, it repeals sections 81-3-215 and 81-3-232 of the Montana Code Annotated. The legislation directly affects feedlot operators by removing these specific inspection and penalty mandates, and it took effect immediately upon passage and approval.
SB 115 revises election laws by adjusting the timeframe for public notices related to elections. It amends existing statutes to allow election administrators a longer window to publish or broadcast certain information. Specifically, the bill changes the maximum notice period from "not more than 10 days" to "not more than 12 days" before an election for notices concerning absentee ballot counting procedures and information about voting systems. This provides election administrators with a slightly extended period to inform the public about these key election details.
SB 10 revises the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act of 1975 by extending specific review timelines for emergency projects that impact streambeds. When the governor declares a state of emergency, the bill allows inspection teams 30 days, instead of the usual 20, to conduct an onsite inspection of an emergency project. Additionally, during such emergencies, team members are granted 40 days, rather than 30, to submit their recommendations for the project's approval, denial, or modification. This provides additional time for regulatory review processes specifically during periods of widespread emergency.
SB 58 revises vote count procedures, primarily affecting election administrators and counting boards. The bill mandates that if a counting board cannot reconcile the total number of ballots with the pollbook record and their initial report does not satisfactorily explain the discrepancy, the election administrator must conduct an investigation. This investigation may involve recounting ballots and reviewing accepted ballot records. The election administrator is then required to report the findings of this investigation to the board of county canvassers. This establishes a clear protocol for addressing unexplained ballot count discrepancies.
SB 241 revises alcohol license transfer laws, primarily affecting businesses that hold or wish to acquire an alcohol license. This bill prohibits the Department of Revenue from denying the transfer of an alcohol license solely because the seller has outstanding taxes, penalties, or interest owed to the department. Instead, the proceeds from the sale of the license may be used to satisfy any existing liens the department has filed against the seller for those debts. This ensures that a seller's tax obligations do not automatically block a license transfer, while still allowing the department to recover owed funds from the sale proceeds.
HB 58 revises how state funds are distributed for environmental cleanup, specifically targeting abandoned mine sites and hazardous waste areas. The bill mandates a biennial transfer of $500,000 through June 2038 for long-term maintenance and water treatment at the CR Kendall mine reclamation site. It also extends the state's financial contribution for cleanup, operation, and maintenance at the Libby asbestos superfund site until June 2038. These provisions ensure continued funding for critical environmental remediation efforts managed by the Department of Environmental Quality.
HB 244 revises hunting and fishing license provisions for Montana residents serving in the armed forces. It allows eligible members of the National Guard, federal reserve, or active duty who served at least two months outside the state in a contingency operation to receive a free resident conservation license and a fishing or combination sports license for five years, with the option to reset this period after subsequent deployments. The bill also guarantees that service members who forfeited a drawn license due to deployment can receive that same license upon their return without additional cost. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will be reimbursed from the state's general fund for the cost of these free licenses.
HB 248 revises election laws concerning voter registration cancellation. The bill amends the reasons an election administrator must cancel a voter's registration. It now includes "an obituary" as a source for reporting an elector as deceased, in addition to existing methods like death certificates. Additionally, it specifies that an elector's registration will be canceled if they fail to respond to confirmation mailings, are placed on the inactive list, and subsequently do not vote in two consecutive federal general elections. These revisions directly affect the conditions under which an elector's registration is removed from active rolls.
Senate Bill 366 revises the notification process for county central committee conventions. It allows the presiding officer of a county central committee to email the call of the county convention to precinct committee representatives. This change provides an additional method for informing committee representatives about upcoming conventions, alongside the existing requirements to publish the call in a newspaper and mail a copy.
SB 78 revises laws related to the inspection and marking of hides and meat from slaughtered animals. The bill eliminates the requirement that each dressed carcass of a slaughtered animal must be stamped by an inspector. However, slaughtering establishments must still maintain the hide of each slaughtered animal for inspection and marking by a state or deputy state stock inspector. The bill also updates the requirements for inspectors when handling bills of sale that cover animals not included in the current inspection. Finally, it clarifies that individuals who kill livestock in good faith for their own use are not required to have the meat inspected or stamped.
HB 279 revises the geographic boundaries for District 1 and District 2, which are used for appointments to the Board of Public Education, Board of Regents, Coal Board, and Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board. The bill specifies the exact counties belonging to each district. These revised districts will apply to any future vacancies on these boards, but current members will not be displaced.
This bill grants the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) the authority to establish uniform administrative rules for the professional and occupational boards it oversees. These rules will specifically govern the procedures for handling contested administrative cases, which are formal disputes within the licensing process. The DLI will also be able to create rules for public notice requirements, potentially allowing the posting of a licensee's name and hearing details on a public website prior to a final decision on their license. This aims to standardize how these boards manage disagreements and provide public information about ongoing administrative actions.
