Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 612: Generally revise criminal procedure laws

HB 612 revises criminal procedure laws concerning the revocation of suspended or deferred sentences, impacting offenders who violate their probation terms. The bill mandates that if a suspended or deferred sentence is revoked, any new sentence imposed will run consecutively to an existing sentence, unless the original sentence was already running concurrently. It also outlines procedures for revocation hearings, including offender rights and the prosecution's burden of proof. Additionally, the bill defines specific types of violations, such as "absconding" and "compliance violations," and applies these provisions to all offenders facing sentence revocation.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates consecutive sentencing for probation violations, increasing punishment severity. Opposes reform by making sentences harsher and reducing leniency for offenders.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 344: Revise criminal laws.

HB 344 establishes a new type of driving under the influence (DUI) offense. This offense applies to both noncommercial and commercial drivers found to have a specified amount of prohibited substances, other than alcohol or marijuana, in their blood or other bodily fluids while operating a vehicle. The bill amends existing laws regarding drug concentration standards, driver rehabilitation program eligibility, and penalties for driving with a suspended or revoked license to incorporate this new offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new DUI offense for drugs (non-alcohol/marijuana), expanding criminalization. This aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports 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 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 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 · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 3: Supplemental Appropriations Bill

HB 3 is a funding bill that allocates specific amounts to Montana state agencies for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and continues some funding into the 2025-2026 biennium. It provides $22.2 million to the Public Health and Human Services Division, $12.5 million to the State Public Defender's Conflict Division, $4.07 million to the Montana Highway Patrol, and other sums to agencies like Revenue, Corrections, and Fish and Wildlife. The bill directs these funds for existing agency operations, with unspent balances reverting to their respective funds. It became law immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025, without requiring additional legislative action. This is a routine budget measure affecting state agency operations, not a policy change impacting citizens.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $22.2M to Public Health, $12.5M to Public Defender, and other funds for essential state operations, directly supporting budget allocation and fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates $12.5M to State Public Defender's Conflict Division, directly funding indigent defense and defendants' rights in criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $4.07M to Montana Highway Patrol (transportation safety agency) for road safety operations, directly funding transportation infrastructure maintenance.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 268: Generally revise notification requirements related to the registration of sexual and violent offenders

HB 268 revises Montana's laws for sexual and violent offender registration, primarily affecting individuals convicted of such offenses who must register under state law. The bill requires county attorneys to notify the Attorney General's office when a petition for relief from registration is filed, and it updates registration duration rules: violent offenders automatically qualify for relief after 10 years (unless reconvicted), while level 1 sexual offenders may petition after 10 years and level 2 after 25 years. Courts must consider a clean record (no new convictions, successful treatment/completion of supervision) and public safety before granting relief, and must notify victims before hearings. The changes aim to streamline the relief process while maintaining public safety safeguards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates registration duration to allow relief after 10 years for violent offenders and level 1 sexual offenders, reducing long-term restrictions and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.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