Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 577: Revise expungement laws to allow for certain nonviolent felony records

This bill expands Montana's criminal record expungement laws to include certain nonviolent felony offenses, allowing individuals with such convictions to petition for the permanent removal of their criminal records. It defines expungement as the permanent destruction or erasure of arrest and court records, while excluding violent offenses and certain serious crimes like assault, stalking, and driving under the influence. Under the new provisions, people convicted of nonviolent felonies may request expungement after a 10-year waiting period without new charges, whereas misdemeanor expungement requires a 5-year wait. The bill also establishes that expungement is presumed if the petitioner has no pending charges and meets the waiting period requirements, though courts retain discretion to deny requests based on factors like rehabilitation and likelihood of reoffending.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands expungement rights for nonviolent felons, promoting criminal justice reform and rehabilitation by allowing record removal.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 9, 2025

LC 1500: Revise laws related to drug assault crimes

This bill amends Montana's assault laws to classify the non-consensual administration of specific drugs as assault. It directly affects individuals who provide substances like rohypnol, flunitrazepam, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, alcohol, or diphenhydramine to others without their consent. The law includes exceptions for medical providers treating patients, parents administering medication to minor children, guardians of incapacitated adults, and the use of opioid overdose reversal medications. A person convicted of this offense faces a fine of up to $500, imprisonment in county jail for up to six months, or both penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by expanding assault laws to cover non-consensual drug administration, enhancing protection against chemical assault crimes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Violent Crime

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 1488: Generally revise penalties for assaults against utility workers

This bill creates a new criminal offense for assaulting employees of public utilities in Montana, covering acts that cause bodily injury, create reasonable fear of serious injury through weapons, or result in serious bodily injury. The law directly affects individuals who attack utility workers and establishes specific prison terms and fines based on the severity of the assault, with penalties ranging from up to 10 years in prison and $50,000 in fines for lesser offenses to up to 20 years and the same fine for causing serious bodily injury. By defining these actions as distinct crimes with enhanced penalties, the legislation aims to provide clearer legal consequences for violence against utility workers without changing how other assault cases are handled.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by creating new offenses and penalties for assaulting utility workers, enhancing protection for public servants.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill protects utility workers from assault, strengthening energy infrastructure security and ensuring reliable utility operations.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workplace safety by creating criminal penalties for assaulting utility workers, protecting employees from physical harm.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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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

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Violent Crime

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 383: Generally revise partner family member assault laws to prevent victim from being charged with assault

SB 383 amends Montana law to prevent victims of partner or family member assault from being charged with assault themselves. The bill specifically adds Section 1(9) to Section 45-5-206, MCA, stating: "A victim may not be charged with partner or family member assault." This directly affects domestic violence victims who may have been prosecuted for defending themselves against abusers. The key mechanism is a clear legal prohibition on charging victims, ensuring only the abuser can face criminal charges in such incidents. The bill does not change penalties for offenders or other provisions like mandatory counseling.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents charging domestic violence victims for self-defense, protecting victims' rights and aligning with criminal justice reform principles by ensuring only abusers face prosecution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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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

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole Violent Crime

vetoed · Montana · Senate Jul 11, 2025

SB 537: Generally revise marijuana tax laws

SB 537 revises Montana's marijuana tax revenue distribution, directing funds from the marijuana state special revenue account to new and existing state accounts. It requires transferring excess funds annually to specific accounts, including 12% to the HEART account for addiction treatment and mental health programs, 20% to wildlife habitat projects, and 14% to behavioral health initiatives. The bill also allocates funds for law enforcement canine training, sexual assault evidence kits, and homeless shelter support, while modifying existing transfer rules for agencies like the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. These changes apply to all state agencies receiving marijuana tax revenue under Montana law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects marijuana tax revenue to specific public service accounts (12% to addiction treatment, 20% to wildlife, 14% to behavioral health), increasing funding for state programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates 12% to HEART account for addiction treatment and 14% to behavioral health initiatives, directly supporting rehabilitation programs aligned with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 20% of marijuana tax revenue to wildlife habitat projects, directly funding environmental conservation as specified in bill summary.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates 12% to HEART for addiction/mental health and 14% to behavioral health, directly funding healthcare programs under healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy Violent Crime Wildlife Substance Abuse

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 273: Revise laws related to charges of assault

SB 273 would have changed Montana's assault law by giving victims (with specific exceptions for developmentally, physically, or mentally disabled individuals) the sole authority to decide whether to file assault charges. The bill amended Montana Code Annotated § 45-5-201 to state that victims - not prosecutors - determine if charges proceed for most assault cases. This would have shifted the decision-making power from law enforcement to the victim in non-exempt cases. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee, heard, tabled, and ultimately died in process on May 23, 2025, without becoming law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShifts charging authority from prosecutors to victims, aligning with victim-centered criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 136: Prohibit consent as a defense for physician assisted suicide

SB 136 amends Montana's criminal code (Section 45-2-211, MCA) to state that a patient's consent to physician aid in dying is not a defense to a homicide charge against the physician. The bill defines "physician aid in dying" as a physician prescribing a lethal medication for the patient to self-administer, excluding standard comfort care or withholding life-sustaining treatment. This directly affects physicians who provide such aid, making their actions prosecutable as homicide if consent is claimed as a defense. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not impact existing practices of comfort care or end-of-life treatment under Montana law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes consent as a defense for physician-assisted suicide, making it prosecutable as homicide under criminal code, expanding criminalization of medical practices.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill criminalizes physician-assisted suicide by removing consent as a defense, restricting access to a specific healthcare service under homicide laws.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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signed · Montana · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 44: Revise laws related to tampering with evidence connected to a homicide

HB 44 increases penalties for tampering with evidence in homicide investigations. It raises the maximum penalty for tampering that affects a medical examiner’s ability to determine a cause of death from 10 years to 40 years in prison, or a $100,000 fine (up from $50,000). The bill specifically targets individuals who alter, destroy, or fabricate evidence to mislead homicide investigations. This directly affects people who interfere with physical evidence in cases involving death, such as by destroying a weapon or falsifying autopsy records. The law amends Montana’s existing evidence tampering statute to strengthen consequences for crimes impacting homicide resolution.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for evidence tampering from 10 to 40 years, expanding criminalization and stricter sentencing per 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime