Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 444: Generally revise criminal procedure laws

SB 444 revises criminal procedure laws related to search warrants. It amends existing law to require law enforcement officers to show a search warrant to a known lawful occupant of a property when a search is being conducted. This change ensures that occupants present during a search are directly presented with the warrant. The bill maintains the requirement for officers to provide a copy of the warrant and a receipt for any seized property.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to show warrant to lawful occupant, protecting civil rights and enhancing police accountability during searches.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 577: Providing that the highway patrol chief serves at the pleasure of the AG

HB 577 proposes a change to the appointment and tenure of the state Highway Patrol Chief. Currently, the Chief holds office until termination for cause. This bill would amend existing law to state that the Highway Patrol Chief would instead "serve at the pleasure of the attorney general." This means the Attorney General could remove the Chief without needing to show cause, and this change would apply to any new appointments made on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill allows AG to remove Highway Patrol Chief without cause, weakening independent law enforcement oversight.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

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

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

died · Montana · House Feb 19, 2025

HB 425: Generally revise victim damages when apprehending perpetrators

HB 425 would have made Montana peace officers financially responsible for property damage or injuries to occupants when they illegally enter a building during a search or pursuit. Specifically, it applied if officers entered the wrong dwelling per a warrant, pursued a suspect into a non-suspect's building, or caused a hostage situation while apprehending someone. The bill aimed to directly affect law enforcement officers and residents of buildings where such incidents occurred. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 19, 2025, before becoming law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHolds officers financially accountable for illegal entries during searches/pursuits, directly enhancing police accountability per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 589: Generally revise peace officer education standards

HB 589 revises education standards for peace officers in Montana, affecting individuals seeking to become peace officers and the agencies that employ them. The bill expands where the mandatory peace officer basic course can be completed. In addition to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy, a qualified law enforcement academy administered by an accredited Montana college or university may now provide this training. These alternative academies must have their curriculum and training methods approved by both a Montana state or local law enforcement agency and the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council, ensuring they meet comparable standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands approved training venues for peace officers with curriculum approval, strengthening law enforcement education standards within criminal justice system.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 503: Generally revise traffic laws regarding evading or fleeing a peace officer

HB 503 revises existing traffic laws concerning fleeing from or eluding a peace officer. It categorizes this offense into a misdemeanor, an aggravated felony, and a felony if serious bodily injury or death occurs. The bill defines aggravated fleeing to include factors such as previous convictions, reckless driving behavior, causing over $5,000 in property damage, or leaving the state. It establishes specific penalties, including varying terms of imprisonment and fines, for individuals convicted of each level of the offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for fleeing officers, categorizing it as felony with aggravated factors, expanding criminalization and mandatory sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement