Criminal Justice

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 370: Generally revise laws related to jury duty

SB 370 increases daily compensation for Montana jurors: $25-$60 per day for attending jury duty and an additional $25-$60 per day if selected for a specific case. It directly affects individuals summoned for jury service in criminal cases, providing higher pay than current rates. The bill establishes a funding mechanism where counties submit invoices to the Office of Court Administrator for reimbursement of these costs. This replaces the existing fee structure under Section 3-15-201, MCA, specifically for criminal trials or settlements requiring jury service.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases juror compensation for criminal cases, improving court operations and access to fair trials - key aspects of criminal justice reform.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 921: Constitutional amendment prohibiting distribution or receipt of child pornography

HB 921 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Montana to prohibit and punish the distribution or receipt of child pornography violating federal laws, while creating a private right for individuals to sue violators. It directly affects Montana state and local governments (who could enforce these prohibitions) and any person harmed by such violations (who could file lawsuits). Key provisions include overriding conflicting state laws to enable state enforcement of federal child pornography statutes and granting courts authority to award injunctive relief and attorney fees in successful lawsuits. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election and would not change existing federal laws, merely enabling Montana to align its enforcement with federal standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens enforcement of child pornography laws via state action and private lawsuits, directly enhancing criminal justice protections for minors.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 116: Provide for attorneys to appear remotely

HB 116 aimed to allow attorneys, particularly public defenders, to appear remotely in court proceedings. The bill would have required all courts to establish a consistent process for these remote appearances. Public defenders would have been permitted to appear remotely for "nonsubstantive hearings," such as arraignments or bond hearings, where the case's final outcome isn't decided. However, a court could still order an attorney to appear in person if there was "good cause," such as a lack of technological resources, and provided advance notice.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables public defenders to appear remotely for nonsubstantive hearings, improving access to legal representation without restricting rights, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 691: Provide for legislative intent regarding the Montana criminal justice data warehouse

HB 691 clarifies the purpose and requirements for Montana's existing criminal justice data warehouse, which collects and stores information from state and local agencies. The bill specifies that the warehouse must include detailed offender data - such as complete criminal histories, sentencing timelines, drug involvement in offenses, and pretrial release outcomes - to help officials make data-driven decisions about the justice system. State agencies, courts, and other entities are required to contribute data to the warehouse while retaining ownership of their information, with strict confidentiality protections outlined. This bill directly affects law enforcement, courts, and correctional agencies by standardizing how they share and use criminal justice data.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates detailed data collection in criminal justice warehouse for data-driven decisions, aligning with reform indicators like improved oversight and evidence-based policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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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 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 569: Revise laws related to perjury and false swearing

HB 569 sought to revise laws related to perjury and false swearing. The bill proposed changes to the penalties for these offenses, introducing mandatory minimum jail sentences and adjusting maximum terms and fines. For perjury, the punishment would shift from state prison to county jail, while still requiring a minimum 6-month term. For false swearing, new mandatory minimums for jail time and revised fines were introduced. Additionally, the bill mandated that credible allegations of both perjury and false swearing be investigated by an agency independent of the judiciary.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIntroduces mandatory minimum jail sentences for perjury/false swearing, increasing punitive measures rather than advancing reform or protections.90% 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 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