Criminal Justice

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 542: Revise DUI offense penalties for third offense to be a felony

House Bill 542 aims to revise the penalties for individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) offenses. It increases the minimum imprisonment terms for first convictions from 24 to 72 consecutive hours, and for second convictions from 7 to 30 days. While the bill's title indicates an intent to reclassify a third DUI offense as a felony, the provided text

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases DUI penalties (72h jail for first, 30d for second, third offense as felony), directly increasing mandatory sentences which opposes criminal justice reform trends.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 709: Create the crime of human smuggling

HB 709 sought to establish the crime of "human smuggling" in Montana, targeting individuals and entities who knowingly transport or harbor people who have unlawfully entered the United States without federal inspection. Individuals convicted of this crime would face penalties including imprisonment, a substantial fine, or both. Entities found guilty would lose their eligibility for certain state tax exemptions. Additionally, the bill included provisions for the criminal forfeiture of property, such as vehicles and funds, if used in or derived from the crime of human smuggling.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new crime of human smuggling, expanding criminalization without reform elements per indicators.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes transporting/harboring undocumented immigrants with penalties, increasing state enforcement against activities aiding undocumented individuals, directly opposing immigrant protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 635: Revise human rights laws to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs

HB 635 proposes to prohibit state and local government agencies from funding, establishing, or supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. It would prevent these agencies from requiring employees to participate in DEI programs or spending public funds on related services or staff. The bill defines DEI programs as activities that focus on describing power structures, methods to dismantle them, or advancing theories like implicit bias or systemic oppression. However, it includes exceptions for complying with federal law, specific state human rights laws, court orders, and offering sexual harassment training. This legislation directly affects state and local government agencies and their employees in Montana.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill prohibits DEI programs addressing systemic oppression and implicit bias - key components of criminal justice reform. This restricts initiatives to reduce bias in law enforcement and courts, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.80% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits government funding/support for DEI programs addressing workplace discrimination, directly restricting employment equality initiatives under Labor & Employment protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 621: Allow a local first response entity to establish a peer support program

HB 621 allows local first responder entities, including police departments, sheriff's offices, fire departments, and emergency medical service providers, to establish peer support programs. These programs must have a written policy that outlines qualifications for peer supporters, defines peer support sessions, and ensures confidentiality for participants. The bill prohibits qualified peer supporters from testifying about the content of peer support sessions, with exceptions if an employee has committed or plans a crime, or indicates intent to harm themselves or others.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables peer support programs for first responders, enhancing officer well-being and accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables peer support programs for first responders' mental health, expanding access to mental health services as a core healthcare component.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes mandatory peer support programs for first responders, enhancing workplace mental health and safety protections through confidentiality and written policies, aligning with workplace safety indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 575: Generally revise the proceedings in which a public defender may be assigned

HB 575 revises the circumstances under which a public defender may be assigned in court proceedings. It specifically authorizes courts to assign a public defender to a parent facing involuntary termination of their parental rights. The bill also allows courts to order a public defender to serve as a member of a treatment court team. These changes expand the scope of public defender services to include these specific situations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands public defender access to parental rights cases and treatment courts, strengthening defendant representation and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 117: Establish criminal justice data warehouse priorities

HB 117 establishes project priorities for the state's criminal justice data warehouse, affecting the Board of Crime Control, the Criminal Justice Oversight Council, and various state and local criminal justice agencies. It directs the Board of Crime Control to focus on tasks like creating unique identifiers to link data across agencies, acquiring specialized software for data management, and integrating more local criminal justice data. The bill also mandates regular reporting on progress to legislative committees and appropriates over $1.4 million in general funds for software, staff positions, and judicial data contributions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes data integration priorities for criminal justice agencies, enabling better oversight and data-driven reforms per Criminal Procedure subject focus.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 745: Require background checks for certain school employees and volunteers

HB 745 revises school laws to enhance student safety by requiring new policies and background checks. It mandates that school districts adopt a student protection policy, which includes conducting fingerprint-based national criminal history background checks. These checks are required for any individual, regardless of employment status, who may have unsupervised contact with students. The bill also requires background checks for educator licensure, and non-compliant districts must submit a correction plan to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates fingerprint-based criminal history background checks for school staff/volunteers, directly using law enforcement tools to enhance student safety and prevent access by individuals with criminal records. Explicitly categorized under La...90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates background checks for school staff/volunteers to enhance student safety, directly protecting educational environments per bill's safety focus.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 393: Provide funding for enforcement of PL 280

SB 393 appropriates $6 million from the state's general fund for the biennium starting July 1, 2025, to reimburse expenditures related to felony criminal jurisdiction on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The funding is distributed to Lake County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Initial funds are contingent upon Lake County rescinding its resolution to withdraw from Public Law 280. Further distributions require an agreement between the state, Lake County, and the Tribes addressing cost-sharing for Public Law 280 implementation within Lake County, and Lake County's ability to withdraw consent for jurisdiction is restricted until at least June 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $6M from general fund for law enforcement reimbursement under PL 280, directly funding state program via budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates $6M to reimburse felony criminal jurisdiction enforcement under PL 280, directly funding law enforcement operations on tribal reservations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 348: Revise laws on sexual assault

SB 348 revises laws related to sexual assault, primarily by increasing penalties for offenders. The bill raises the maximum fines and imprisonment terms for first, second, and third or subsequent convictions of sexual assault. A key provision mandates that individuals convicted of a second sexual assault offense must register as a sexual offender. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of sexual assault by strengthening legal consequences for the crime.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties, mandates registration for second offenses, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing per bill's explicit language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 15, 2025

HB 396: Generally revise bail laws

HB 396 revises existing laws concerning bail for arrested individuals. It requires that a person must appear before a judge in a court of record before being admitted to bail, and it clarifies that interstate agreements apply in certain situations. The bill expands the criteria courts must consider when deciding whether to release or detain a defendant, adding factors like the defendant's history of absconding and the costs incurred by a government to transport them. Furthermore, it revises the factors for determining the amount of bail, including ensuring protection from bodily injury and considering a defendant's prior abscondence history.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands detention criteria (absconding history, transport costs), potentially restricting pretrial release and defendant rights per indicators.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice