Criminal Justice

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 289: Revise crime laws

HB 289 aimed to revise Montana's crime laws by expanding the definition of the offense of endangering the welfare of children. The bill sought to include situations where a child is exposed to the production, manufacture, or direct presence of fentanyl, heroin, or cocaine. This would apply to individuals who knowingly engage in these activities in locations where children might reasonably be present. Violations under this specific provision would be classified as a felony, carrying potential penalties of imprisonment, fines, or both.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying drug exposure near children as felony, increasing penalties under crime laws.95% confidence

Track

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 82: Generally revise laws related to crimes against children

HB 82 creates a new criminal offense called "grooming of a child for a sexual offense," defined as using communication (in-person or electronic) to manipulate a child into sexual activity, coerce meetings, distribute explicit material, or exploit authority to build a secret relationship. The bill revises existing laws to include computer-generated child pornography in sexual abuse charges and increases penalties for crimes against children, such as mandatory 100-year prison sentences for offenders targeting children under 12. It directly affects individuals who engage in grooming or sexual exploitation of minors, requiring severe punishments including fines up to $50,000 and mandatory sex offender treatment. The law updates legal definitions to address modern tactics like online interactions while strengthening protections for children under 16.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory 100-year sentences and expands criminalization of child-related offenses, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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

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

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 261: Generally revise endangering the welfare of children

SB 261 revises the existing law concerning endangering the welfare of children. It expands the definition of this offense to include knowingly exposing a child to marijuana or dangerous drugs. The bill also makes it an offense to assist a child in entering an adult-use dispensary or a place where human trafficking or the production of dangerous drugs is taking place. Additionally, it updates sections related to drug manufacturing and exposure in the presence of children to apply to a broader range of dangerous drugs instead of specifically methamphetamine.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offenses (e.g., exposing children to marijuana) and aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Human Trafficking

died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 2240: Revise criminal child endangerment laws to include prosecution of CPS specialists

This bill (LC 2240) proposed amending criminal child endangerment laws to allow criminal prosecution against Child Protective Services (CPS) specialists for certain actions. It would directly affect CPS professionals who currently have legal protections from such charges. The key mechanism would expand the definition of criminal endangerment to include specific failures by CPS specialists in their duties, potentially making them subject to criminal charges. The bill did not advance beyond drafting and died in process in May 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by enabling prosecution of CPS specialists for professional failures, directly increasing criminal liability under endangerment laws.95% confidence

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2993: Increase mandatory minimums for fentanyl trafficking

LC 2993, titled "Increase mandatory minimums for fentanyl trafficking," would have raised the minimum prison sentences for individuals convicted of trafficking fentanyl. It would directly affect people found guilty of fentanyl trafficking by requiring longer mandatory prison terms. The key provision would have amended sentencing guidelines to set higher minimum terms for these offenses. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 27, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences for fentanyl trafficking, directly opposing criminal justice reform by expanding harsh sentencing policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2907: Increase firearm theft penalties

This draft bill (LC 2907) aimed to increase criminal penalties for individuals convicted of stealing firearms. It would have directly affected people found guilty of firearm theft by imposing stricter sentencing requirements. The bill was assigned to a drafter in December 2024 but was placed on hold in January 2025 and ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025 without becoming law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for firearm theft, expanding criminalization and mandatory sentencing - directly opposing reform efforts in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Sentencing

Track

vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 605: Revise criminal laws related to strip searches

HB 605 proposed revisions to criminal laws concerning strip searches for individuals entering correctional facilities. The bill would have allowed a person to be subjected to a strip search if they were to be housed in a jail or correctional facility for more than 12 hours. This provision would have created an exception to the existing requirement that individuals arrested for traffic or non-felony offenses can only be strip-searched if there is reasonable suspicion they are concealing a weapon, contraband, or evidence. The change would have permitted strip searches based on the anticipated length of detention, regardless of the initial offense type or specific suspicion for the search.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes reasonable suspicion requirement for strip searches in correctional facilities, reducing defendant rights and weakening existing protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 521: Generally revise civil liability laws

HB 521 revises civil liability laws by establishing that a person convicted of a crime has no legal right to sue for injuries or other damages they sustained during the commission of that crime. This means individuals cannot recover damages through a civil lawsuit if their injuries occurred while they were actively committing a crime for which they were later convicted. The bill specifies that this new provision will be codified as part of Title 27, chapter 1, part 5 of the state's legal code.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticePrevents convicted criminals from suing for crime-related injuries, directly reducing defendant rights per bill's explicit language.95% confidence