Criminal Justice

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 593: Generally revise sexual abuse reporting laws

This bill revises laws concerning the reporting and tracking of child sexual abuse and exploitation cases. It requires county attorneys to gather all investigative materials, request assistance from the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to identify alleged perpetrators when needed, and certify receipt of reports. County attorneys must also report detailed case statuses, including the number of reports not prosecuted, to the Attorney General twice yearly. The Attorney General is then mandated to aggregate this information and report it to specific legislative committees, while DPHHS must advise the Attorney General on uncharged cases it believes warrant prosecution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates improved reporting, tracking, and oversight of child abuse cases, enhancing accountability in criminal justice system per Criminal Procedure subjects.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 816: Generally revise DUI penalties

HB 816, titled "Generally revise DUI penalties," aims to update laws related to Driving Under the Influence. The bill proposes to increase penalties for DUI offenses, directly affecting individuals convicted of these crimes. It also includes amendments to the definition of "misdemeanor" and other general definitions within the Montana Code Annotated.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases DUI penalties, aligning with indicators of restricting criminal justice reform by harshening sentencing without reform elements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 702: Generally revise laws relating to criminal acts

HB 702 creates a new crime for operating drones over Montana correctional facilities without permission, punishable by 1-5 years in prison. It revises assault laws to specifically include intentionally making bodily fluid contact with correctional staff, healthcare providers, or emergency responders during arrests, incarceration, or transport. The bill also updates rules for possessing or transferring prohibited items (like cellphones, drugs, or weapons) into prisons, with harsher penalties for weapons (up to 20 years) and drugs (up to 10 years), while adding clarity about notice requirements for minor contraband. These changes directly affect prison staff, inmates, visitors, and anyone near correctional facilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for drone operations, expands assault definitions, and harshens prison contraband rules, strengthening punitive measures without reform elements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 236: Provide for evaluations of defendants in detention centers or state prisons

HB 236 aimed to allow mental health evaluations for criminal defendants, used to determine their fitness to proceed in court, to be conducted within detention centers or state prisons. It directed the Department of Public Health and Human Services to create rules for these facilities, covering aspects like defendant care, security for evaluators, and the use of remote communication for examinations. The bill also outlined which entities, such as the courts or public defender's office, would be responsible for covering the costs of these evaluations and related expenses. This would have impacted criminal defendants undergoing such evaluations and the correctional facilities hosting them.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates mental health evaluations for defendants' fitness to proceed, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting defendant rights and improving court proceedings through proper mental health assessments.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 93: Establish compensation for wrongful conviction

HB 93 sought to establish a system for compensating individuals who were wrongly convicted of felony crimes and later exonerated. It would allow eligible claimants, defined as those imprisoned for felonies they did not commit, to file a civil action against the state or county of conviction. To receive compensation, claimants would need to prove their actual innocence by a preponderance of the evidence and waive other legal remedies against the state. The bill also provided for a $5,000 transition assistance grant, expungement of the conviction, and outlined how damages and legal costs would be paid, excluding compensation for crimes that are now legal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCompensates wrongfully convicted, promoting accountability and civil rights in criminal justice reform90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 674: Revise code commissioner duties to include repealing unconstitutional policies from Montana code

HB 674 proposes to update the responsibilities of Montana's Code Commissioner. It would add a new duty requiring the commissioner to recommend legislation that eliminates laws from the Montana Code that courts have found to be unconstitutional and permanently blocked from being enforced. This change aims to ensure the published code reflects only valid, enforceable statutes. It directly affects the Code Commissioner's review process and the accuracy of the official state legal code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves unconstitutional laws from Montana Code, protecting civil rights and ensuring valid statutes in criminal justice system per court rulings.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 50: Provide protections to parents and pregnant women with substance use disorder

HB 50 protects parents and pregnant women with drug use disorder by preventing child welfare investigations or custody actions solely based on positive drug test results. It amends Montana law to shield individuals seeking treatment or prenatal care from criminal charges related to drug use, and prohibits using drug test results alone to initiate child abuse cases or remove children from homes. The bill directly affects pregnant women, parents, healthcare providers, and child welfare systems by ensuring medical care access isn't penalized. Key provisions include immunity for seeking overdose help and requiring medical evaluation as the primary factor in child welfare decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents criminal charges for drug use when seeking treatment, reducing criminalization and aligning with justice reform by diverting to healthcare instead of prosecution.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prevents criminal charges and child welfare actions for seeking substance use treatment/prenatal care, directly protecting patient access and rights in healthcare services per summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 896: Prohibit harboring or assisting illegal aliens

HB 896 aimed to expand Montana's obstructing justice laws by redefining who is considered "an offender." Under this bill, "an offender" would include individuals who have entered the United States unlawfully or have not complied with their immigration status conditions. Consequently, a person could be charged with obstructing justice for knowingly harboring, assisting, or preventing the discovery or apprehension of such individuals. The bill also included a $500 appropriation to the Department of Justice to notify local law enforcement agencies and county attorneys about these new requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by redefining 'obstructing justice' to include harboring undocumented immigrants, increasing penalties without reform focus.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes harboring undocumented immigrants, expanding state enforcement against them under obstructing justice laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 437: Provide for dismissal of certain criminal charges against health care provider

HB 437 would have allowed health care providers in Montana to request the dismissal of criminal charges related to their professional conduct. If a provider filed such a motion, the state would be required to prove in court that the provider's actions were knowingly or purposely committed, not merely negligent, and that they were outside the accepted standards of care. If the state failed to meet this burden of proof, the court would dismiss the complaint, information, or indictment against the health care provider. The bill aimed to provide protections for health care providers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects health care providers from criminal negligence charges by requiring state to prove intent, advancing defendant rights in criminal procedure.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 852: Generally revise bailbond laws

HB 852 aimed to revise laws related to surety bail bonds, significantly expanding the authority and rights of surety bail bond insurance producers. The bill would grant producers powers to apprehend defendants, including across state lines and by force, without requiring a prior court order. It also intended to make producers formal parties in legal proceedings concerning their bonds, giving them rights to notice, participation, and the ability to file motions in court. Additionally, the bill sought to revise procedures for bail determination, forfeiture, and defendant surrender, and regulate communication methods like teletypes between jails and bond agents.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands bail bond producer authority for forceful apprehension without court order, reducing defendant rights and opposing criminal justice reform efforts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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