HB 562 eliminates specific reporting requirements for various state agencies in Montana. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated, impacting departments such as the Department of Administration, Department of Labor and Industry, and Department of Public Health and Human Services. The bill removes mandates for these agencies to submit certain fiscal, administrative, and program-related reports to legislative committees or the full legislature. This action streamlines administrative processes by reducing the number of required reports.
HB 679 revises the rules governing the use of state-owned vehicles by state agency employees. The bill generally prohibits using these vehicles for commuting between an employee's residence and their worksite. It creates a new exemption for certain employees of the Division of Criminal Investigation within the Department of Justice, specifically the fire marshal and agents in narcotics or major crimes. These DCI employees are now exempt from commuting restrictions if they are subject to call-outs during non-scheduled hours for the protection of life or property. Other existing exceptions for emergency responders and specific officials remain in place.
HB 354 revises the penalties for criminal trespass while engaging in certain outdoor activities. The bill mandates the revocation of hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for individuals convicted of criminal trespass. This penalty applies if the trespass occurs while hunting, fishing, trapping, or collecting antlers, antler sheds, or animal horns, on any property, not just state-owned land.
SB 498 revises the preparation procedures for primary elections, specifically for election judges before counting votes. The bill clarifies that the requirement for election judges to separate and count each political party's ballots separately applies only to counties where ballots are solely counted by hand. Other duties, such as reconciling total party ballots, listing party candidates, and bundling party ballots separately, remain in effect for all primary elections. This adjustment affects election judges and administrators by narrowing the scope of certain ballot preparation steps in primary elections.
SB 355 revises electric utility laws by implementing a competitive bidding process for the construction of new electric transmission line projects. This process directly affects incumbent electric utilities and other entities seeking to build transmission infrastructure. For projects valued at $8 million or more, incumbent electric utilities must conduct a competitive bid, though they are permitted to participate in the bidding. Ultimately, the incumbent electric utility retains the right to own and maintain the completed transmission line, regardless of who constructs it.
HB 535 generally revises the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, which governs how individuals accused of crimes are transferred between states or to federally recognized Indian tribes. It updates definitions and revises procedures for issuing and serving governor's warrants, as well as the process for challenging an extradition through a habeas corpus petition. The bill modifies timelines for holding individuals in custody and clarifies conditions for surrendering people with pending local prosecutions. It also sets new conditions for individuals returned to the state, including potential liability for transport costs, and establishes a timeline for delivering a person after arrest on a governor's warrant or waiver, referencing federal law.
SB 458 expands the types of projects eligible for financing through Commercial Property-Assessed Capital Enhancements (CPACE) programs. It allows commercial, industrial, multifamily housing, and agricultural property owners to finance "public safety and resiliency improvement projects." These projects include enhancements for seismic structural integrity, indoor air quality, resistance to wind, fire, and flooding, power outage resilience, and stormwater control measures. Local governments can establish these programs, enabling property owners to secure third-party financing repaid through a property assessment.
SB 148 allows landowners participating in Montana's block management program or those offering free public elk hunting to designate certain hunting licenses to individuals with developmental or physical disabilities. Previously, these landowners could only designate their earned license benefits to immediate family members or employees. The bill expands this provision, enabling landowners to transfer a conservation license and either a combination sports or big game license to an eligible person with a qualifying disability. This aims to increase hunting access for individuals with disabilities by utilizing existing landowner license designation programs.
SB 482 revises contract laws for college athletes in Montana by requiring written agreements for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. The bill ensures student-athletes can earn compensation for their NIL and retain professional representation, while generally prohibiting postsecondary institutions from restricting or penalizing them for exercising these rights. Athletes must disclose NIL contracts to their institutions, and contracts cannot conflict with team rules or institutional agreements during official team activities. Additionally, institutions are allowed to include NIL provisions in scholarship agreements, prohibit NIL use on school property, or serve as an agent for an athlete's NIL contracts.
SB 264 amends Montana law concerning motor vehicle exhaust noise. This bill eliminates a specific legal defense for motor vehicle operators cited for exceeding the 95-decibel noise limit. Previously, a driver could not be convicted if they had reasonable grounds to believe their vehicle complied with the noise standard. With this change, that defense is no longer available to those charged with a violation.
HB 178 limits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems by state and local government entities and officers. The bill prohibits AI use for cognitive behavioral manipulation, unlawful discrimination, deceptive purposes, and most public space surveillance, with specific exceptions. It requires government entities to disclose when AI-produced material is published without human review or when an AI system is used in public interfaces. Additionally, any AI recommendation or decision that could impact a person's rights, duties, or privileges must be reviewed and can be modified or rejected by a trained human in a responsible position.
HB 156 revises public education funding by replacing individual school district property tax levies for base budgets with a single countywide property tax levy. This new countywide levy, supported by state aid, will fund the basic operating expenses for all school districts within a county. The bill also adjusts state guaranteed tax base aid from a district to a county level and reduces required tuition payments. These changes impact school districts, local taxpayers, and revise the duties of school and county officials regarding education funding.
