Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

LC 1573 aimed to update legal definitions related to assault involving partners or family members. The bill sought to clarify and modernize how such offenses are defined in state law, directly affecting victims, law enforcement, and courts handling domestic violence cases. Key provisions included revising specific terms to better reflect the context of intimate partner or familial abuse, ensuring consistent application of existing laws. This was a procedural change to definitions, not a new penalty or program. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but did not advance beyond the drafting stage, dying in process on May 26, 2025.

HB 795 proposed to expand Montana's criminal record expungement laws to include certain nonviolent felony offenses. It would have allowed individuals convicted of these offenses to petition a district court to have related arrest, investigation, and court records sealed or destroyed. To be eligible, a person would generally need to complete their sentence and remain conviction-free for 10 years, compared to 5 years for misdemeanors. The bill also specified certain offenses, like assault or DUI, for which expungement would not be presumed, and outlined factors for the court to consider. If granted, an order would direct relevant agencies to permanently seal or expunge the records.