Transportation

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2749: Establish program to allow private donations to help pay for public infrastructure

This bill (LC 2749) proposed creating a formal program to accept private donations for public infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. It would have allowed businesses or individuals to contribute funds directly to government infrastructure budgets, with the program administered by relevant state agencies. The bill directly affected state transportation departments and private donors seeking to support public works. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 27, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill proposes private donations for road/bridge infrastructure funding, directly advancing transportation project financing through new revenue streams.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 1822: Generally revise bicycle laws

Bill LC 1822, titled "Generally revise bicycle laws," aimed to update state regulations governing bicycle use, which would have directly affected cyclists, local governments managing infrastructure, and law enforcement handling traffic enforcement. The bill was drafted and assigned to a drafter in November 2024 but died in the legislative process without advancing to committee or floor votes in May 2025. As a result, no specific policy changes were enacted, and the existing bicycle laws remained unchanged. The bill's draft did not include detailed provisions, as it never progressed beyond initial drafting.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly revises bicycle laws to update regulations affecting cyclists and infrastructure, aligning with transportation safety improvements. No enactment, but intent was supportive.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Bicycle Infrastructure Driver Licensing Pedestrian Safety

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3167: Establish public transportation commission to study public transportation

This bill (LC 3167) proposed creating a public transportation commission to study current public transit systems and identify potential improvements. It would have directed the commission to examine service coverage, funding, and accessibility issues affecting riders. However, the bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as it "died in process" on May 27, 2025, meaning it was not introduced or voted on by the legislature. No concrete policy changes were enacted through this proposal.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill proposes commission to study and improve public transit systems, indicating intent to strengthen transportation infrastructure despite not passing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Public Transit Transportation Funding

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2600: Require counties to prepare list of county road segments and budget for construction and maintenance by road segment

Bill LC 2600 would have required counties to create and maintain a detailed list of all county road segments, along with separate budgets for construction and maintenance for each segment. This would directly affect all county governments by mandating greater transparency in how road funds are allocated and spent. The key mechanism would be the annual reporting of these road-specific lists and budgets to state oversight bodies. The bill died in committee on May 27, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires counties to detail road segment budgets for transparency, promoting fiscal accountability in fund allocation per fiscal management topic.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires counties to detail road segment budgets for transparency, enhancing infrastructure accountability and proper fund allocation for transportation maintenance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 773: Revise laws related to metropolitan planning orgs and transportation planning

HB 773, known as "Noah's Act," aimed to streamline transportation planning by reducing redundant reviews for certain projects. It would have eliminated the need for the Transportation Commission to re-review long-range transportation plans and associated projects that were already adopted by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and approved by the Department of Transportation. Instead, these projects, including urban street and nonoperational safety improvements, would be approved by a department district administrator. For communities without MPOs, department district administrators would also gain authority to approve smaller projects without Commission approval, intending to enhance local transportation efficiency.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationStreamlines transportation planning by eliminating redundant reviews, advancing project approvals for infrastructure and safety improvements without reducing funding or standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety Transportation Funding Vehicle Registration

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signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 345: Revise MDT and transportation commission roles in transit

HB 345 clarifies the roles of the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the transportation commission concerning transit funding. The bill specifies that the MDT will be responsible for allocating federal transit administration funds, freight assistance funds, and other legislative appropriations. These funds are designated for the study, design, construction, repair, or improvement of rail or transit intermodal transportation systems. This change shifts the authority for allocating these specific funds from the commission to the department.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates federal transit funds for infrastructure improvements (study, design, construction, repair) of rail/transit systems, clarifying MDT's role in funding allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Freight Rail Transportation Funding

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 764: Revise public transit laws

HB 764 revises public transit laws, affecting how urban transportation districts are established and the reach of municipal bus services. The bill allows a county commissioner to file a petition to create or enlarge an urban transportation district, offering an additional method to the existing elector-initiated process. It also permits municipal bus services to operate beyond the current 8-mile limit from a city's boundary if funded by external sources like the federal or state government, a nonprofit, or if fulfilling an interlocal agreement.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands public transit reach by allowing bus services beyond 8-mile limit with external funding and revises district establishment processes, directly advancing transportation infrastructure and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 369: Create a county road maintenance district

HB 369 authorizes the creation of county road maintenance districts to maintain roads that were previously serviced by the county but owned by other entities. These districts can be formed when at least 66% of property owners in a proposed area petition the county commissioners. The districts are funded by assessing maintenance costs directly against the benefited properties within the district. The amount assessed by a district must then be subtracted from the county's general fund dedicated to road improvement or maintenance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill redirects road maintenance costs to property assessments, reducing county general fund burden via direct beneficiary funding, promoting fiscal responsibility in county finance.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates road maintenance districts to fund infrastructure, directly advancing highway maintenance under Transportation topic via dedicated funding mechanism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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signed · Montana · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 309: Eliminate the Scenic-Historic Byways Advisory Council

SB 309 eliminates the Scenic-Historic Byways Advisory Council, which was previously responsible for assisting in the design and review of the state's scenic-historic byways program. This council, composed of up to 11 members with expertise in areas like tourism, history, and transportation, also helped develop criteria for designating roads. Under this bill, the Montana Department of Transportation and the commission would no longer have this specific advisory body for these functions. The scenic-historic byways program itself and the commission's authority to designate roads remain in effect.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationEliminates advisory council responsible for scenic-historic byways program, a transportation infrastructure function, aligning with 'eliminate transportation programs' indicator.90% confidence

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 471: Generally revise vehicular traffic laws related to pedestrian crossings

SB 471 revises vehicular traffic laws to enhance pedestrian safety at crossings by creating the offense of "endangerment of pedestrians." It establishes a tiered system of fines for drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, with higher penalties for violations occurring at crosswalks equipped with activated pedestrian-actuated devices. Drivers are also made liable for the cost of repairing or replacing any pedestrian-actuated devices they damage. Additionally, the bill clarifies driver responsibilities at flashing pedestrian-actuated devices, requiring them to yield and remain stopped until the pedestrian has crossed, or proceed with caution if unable to stop safely.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates penalties for failing to yield to pedestrians at crossings, enhancing road safety and protecting vulnerable users per traffic regulation updates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bicycle Infrastructure Pedestrian Safety Traffic Safety