Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 487: Revising laws related to the Montana end of watch trust

SB 487 revises the laws governing the Montana End of Watch Trust, which provides support to eligible law enforcement officers and their immediate families in cases of death or catastrophic injury in the line of duty. The bill requires applications for catastrophic injury payments to include a workers' compensation determination of permanent and total disability. It also allows legal children of an officer to receive payments from the trust after turning 18 under certain circumstances. Additionally, the Department of Justice is granted rulemaking authority to administer the trust, including processes for payment distribution, application approval, and appeals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill revises trust to fund support for officers' families, strengthening law enforcement component of criminal justice.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House Apr 18, 2025

HB 186: Increase size of parole board

HB 186 increases the size of the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole from five to six members. This bill directly affects the composition and operations of the board, which is responsible for decisions regarding parole and executive clemency. It outlines qualifications for board members, such as a college degree in a relevant field, extensive work experience in criminal justice, or a law degree. The bill also includes a transition plan for appointing the new sixth member, who will serve an initial term ending in January 2029, with subsequent full 6-year terms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases parole board size and mandates criminal justice expertise for members, improving decision-making in parole/clemency - aligns with reform goals like expert oversight and fairer sentencing.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 101: Revise laws related to squatting

SB 101 creates new offenses for "unlawful squatting" (entering and staying on property without owner consent) and "fraudulent sale or lease" (advertising property for sale/rent without legal rights). Property owners gain clearer authority to request law enforcement removal of unauthorized occupants, with officers allowed to charge a service fee. Occupants convicted of unlawful squatting face misdemeanor penalties and must pay restitution equal to fair market rent for their stay. The bill also establishes a civil remedy for wrongful removal claims, allowing affected individuals to seek damages and attorney fees.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for squatting with misdemeanor penalties, expanding criminalization per OPPOSE indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 124: Revise electronic license privacy law

SB 124 revises electronic license privacy law in Montana. It clarifies that displaying an electronic driver's license on a device or handing the device to a peace officer does not grant consent for the officer to search or seize that electronic device. This bill directly affects individuals who use electronic driver's licenses and law enforcement officers, establishing a clear boundary for device privacy during traffic stops or similar interactions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies electronic license display doesn't grant device search consent, protecting privacy during traffic stops - directly aligns with civil rights protection in law enforcement interactions.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyClarifies electronic license privacy, preventing warrantless device searches during traffic stops, directly strengthening data privacy protections in digital contexts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 132: Generally revise minor in possession laws

SB 132 revises laws for individuals under 21 years of age who possess or unlawfully attempt to purchase alcohol, marijuana, or other intoxicating substances. The bill creates separate crimes for these actions and establishes a tiered penalty system based on the offender's age and the number of prior offenses. Penalties include fines, community service, and mandatory participation in substance abuse information courses, with parents or guardians also required to complete courses for offenders under 18. Repeat offenders may face driver's license confiscation or suspension, chemical dependency assessments, and potential jail time for those 18 and older.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill replaces punitive penalties with substance abuse education and community service for minors, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration in minor possession cases.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 280: Revise domestic violence intervention grant requirements

SB 280 revises the grant requirements for Montana's domestic violence intervention program. The bill allows the Montana Board of Crime Control to provide grants to communities. These grants are specifically for funding probation or compliance officers who monitor individuals charged with or convicted of certain domestic violence offenses, such as partner or family member assault, strangulation, or protection order violations, to ensure they follow court-ordered requirements. The legislation also continues to allow grants for courts to implement offender intervention programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds probation/compliance officers to monitor domestic violence offenders, ensuring court order compliance and reducing recidivism - aligns with strengthening oversight and victim safety in criminal justice reform.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 261: Generally revise endangering the welfare of children

SB 261 revises the existing law concerning endangering the welfare of children. It expands the definition of this offense to include knowingly exposing a child to marijuana or dangerous drugs. The bill also makes it an offense to assist a child in entering an adult-use dispensary or a place where human trafficking or the production of dangerous drugs is taking place. Additionally, it updates sections related to drug manufacturing and exposure in the presence of children to apply to a broader range of dangerous drugs instead of specifically methamphetamine.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offenses (e.g., exposing children to marijuana) and aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 191: Revise crime of endangering welfare of child

HB 191 amends Montana law to create a new offense for knowingly committing domestic violence (defined as assaults under sections 45-5-202, 45-5-206, 45-5-213, or 45-5-215 against a partner or family member) while a child under 18 is present. This directly affects individuals who commit domestic violence near children, adding a separate misdemeanor charge for the child-witnessing aspect. The law specifies that "in the presence of a child" means the child is physically present or the perpetrator knows the child may see/hear the violence. A conviction carries a fine of $100-$1,000 and/or up to 1 year in jail. This amendment does not change existing domestic violence penalties but creates an additional charge specifically for incidents involving children.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new misdemeanor offense for domestic violence near children, strengthening legal accountability and protection for minors under criminal justice framework.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 104: Generally revise power and duties of agents

HB 104 expands the investigative authority of agents appointed by Montana's Attorney General. It adds human trafficking, prostitution, and internet crimes against children to the list of offenses these agents can investigate concurrently with local law enforcement. The bill specifically defines "internet crimes against children" to include offenses like sexual assault, child sex trafficking, and other technology-facilitated crimes against minors. This change directly affects Attorney General-appointed agents, clarifying their jurisdiction without creating new penalties or funding. The bill amends Section 44-2-115 of Montana Code Annotated.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands investigative authority for agents targeting child exploitation and trafficking, strengthening law enforcement's role in criminal justice as defined by the bill's focus on specific offenses.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 75: Revise public safety officer certification standards

HB 75 revises Montana's public safety officer certification standards by requiring appointing authorities (like police departments) to ensure officers complete minimum training within one year of hire. It clarifies that officers must take discipline-specific basic courses if no equivalent course exists, and provides exceptions for military duty (pausing the deadline during service) or valid reasons like illness or course access issues. The bill allows up to 180 days for training extensions, considering factors such as family emergencies or staffing shortages. These changes apply broadly to all public safety officers, including those in specialized roles, and aim to standardize certification requirements across disciplines.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires new officers to complete mandatory training within one year, enhancing accountability and standards in law enforcement per bill's certification revisions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice