Transportation (Roads & Highways)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 7, 2025

LC 1995: Revising laws related to green lights on snow removal equipment

This bill restricts the use of flashing, rotating, or continuous green lights on public highways to only two specific situations: snow removal equipment operated by the Department of Transportation or other government entities, and incident commanders managing on-scene traffic control. The law directly affects government agencies and traffic officials by clarifying when green lights are legally permitted for use on roads. By limiting green light usage to these defined scenarios, the bill aims to prevent confusion among drivers and ensure consistent traffic safety standards. The legislation codifies these restrictions within existing Montana traffic laws to provide clear legal guidance for law enforcement and road maintenance crews.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by clarifying green light usage rules for snow removal and traffic control, reducing confusion and improving road safety standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Traffic Safety

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 8, 2025

LC 4184: Joint resolution on Bowman's Corner

This bill is a joint resolution recommending that Montana's Transportation Commission prioritize safety improvements at Bowman's Corner, the intersection of U.S. Highway 287 and Montana Highway 200. The measure does not mandate any specific action but serves as a formal recommendation from the Legislature to the state agency responsible for highway projects. It reflects the legislative interest in infrastructure within their districts while leaving the final decision to the Transportation Commission. The resolution does not allocate funding or change existing laws, but rather expresses a preference for addressing safety concerns at this specific location.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill recommends safety improvements at a highway intersection, directly supporting transportation infrastructure and safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 8, 2025

LC 2215: Revise laws for prioritization of highway projects

This bill requires Montana's Transportation Interim Committee to prepare a joint resolution recommending specific highway construction and reconstruction projects for prioritization each legislative session. It mandates that the Transportation Commission report biennially to the committee on the status of these recommended projects and explain any decisions not to prioritize them based on technical, financial, and other factors. The Department of Transportation is also required to assist the Commission by providing information and documents to help evaluate these legislatively recommended projects.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes systematic prioritization for highway construction and reconstruction projects, strengthening transportation infrastructure planning and oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 3335: Establish the Jim Loud Thunder Gopher memorial highway

This bill establishes the Jim Loud Thunder Gopher Memorial Highway on a section of existing road in Great Falls, Montana, named in honor of a tribal community organizer and spiritual practitioner. The legislation directs the Department of Transportation to install appropriate signage for the memorial highway and update state maps to include this designation. The bill honors Jim Loud Thunder Gopher, a member of the Little Shell Tribe who advocated for Native American land rights and promoted voter registration and agricultural employment. The memorial highway designation applies specifically to the northwest bypass and Vaughn road between 14th Street and 27th Street northwest in Great Falls.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes a memorial highway designation and directs DOT to install signage and update maps, directly involving transportation infrastructure and road naming.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 1344: Joint resolution on automated vehicles

This Montana joint resolution urges the federal government to establish safety standards for automated vehicles that ensure safe operation in all weather and road conditions. The bill specifically requests that federal regulations require these vehicles to function safely in snow, ice, mountain passes, and open range roads common in Montana. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to federal lawmakers and transportation officials to advocate for these safety requirements. The measure does not change state laws but serves as a formal request for federal action on vehicle automation safety.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill advocates for enhanced safety standards for automated vehicles in Montana's specific road conditions, strengthening transportation safety regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Autonomous Vehicles Roads & Highways

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 9, 2025

LC 2532: Revise rural improvement district laws to include maintenance of existing public improvements

This bill updates Montana's rural improvement district laws to allow these districts to be created specifically for maintaining existing public improvements like roads. It changes how districts are formed by removing the requirement for a formal petition when all property owners in the area waive their right to protest, and it lowers the consent threshold for road maintenance districts to either 85% of property area or 50% if all roads are already public. The legislation also clarifies how rural improvement districts can include properties inside city limits and streamlines the process for combining different types of improvements in a single district. These changes affect rural property owners, county commissioners, and local governments by making it easier to establish and manage districts for infrastructure maintenance.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands rural district powers to maintain existing public roads, directly advancing transportation infrastructure through improved maintenance capabilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 11, 2025

LC 2472: Eliminate the Scenic-Historic Byways Advisory Council

This bill eliminates the Scenic-Historic Byways Advisory Council in Montana, which was previously responsible for advising on the scenic and historic road designation program. The legislation removes the requirement for the state commission to appoint this council and deletes its related funding provisions. The bill directly affects the state Department of Transportation and the Montana Transportation Commission by ending the council's role in reviewing road nominations and recommending designations. While the advisory council is removed, the bill retains the core program that allows the commission to designate scenic-historic roads with local government concurrence. The amended rules still require the department to establish criteria for road designation, including considerations for local economic development, resource protection, and private property rights.

Topics ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill eliminates a transportation advisory council and removes related funding, weakening the scenic-historic road designation program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 23, 2025

LC 3293: Revise laws for agricultural vehicles on the highway

This bill updates Montana laws to improve safety around slow-moving agricultural vehicles on highways. It requires drivers to slow down when approaching these vehicles, matching their speed when traveling in the same direction or reducing speed to half the posted limit when traveling in opposite directions. The legislation also mandates that agricultural vehicle operators pull off the road or onto the shoulder if traffic backs up behind them, allowing following vehicles to pass safely. The law defines agricultural vehicles to include tractors, farm equipment, self-propelled units, tractor combinations, and vehicles hauling hay or straw.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by updating regulations for agricultural vehicles on highways, requiring speed adjustments and safe passing procedures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 1517: Revise laws related to highway reconstruction

This bill updates Montana laws governing the documentation required when the state plans to build or reconstruct highways. It requires the Department of Transportation to file detailed right-of-way plans that identify property boundaries, owner names, and parcel numbers for any land affected by the project. The bill also prevents property owners from receiving compensation for improvements made to land after the plan is filed, unless those improvements are crops or similar agricultural items. Additionally, the plan becomes invalid one year after filing if the state does not begin the process of acquiring the property. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill clarifies highway reconstruction documentation and protects property rights, strengthening transportation infrastructure planning and reducing legal disputes during road projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 3696: Revise distribution of revenue for local government roads

This bill revises how Montana distributes state revenue for local road construction and maintenance among counties, cities, towns, and consolidated city-county governments. The key change is adding a new factor that allocates 25% of county funds and 20% of city/town funds based on daily vehicle miles traveled, while adjusting existing population and mileage-based formulas. Funds must be used for building, repairing, or maintaining rural roads and city streets, with specific rules for how consolidated city-county governments receive their share and how towns can use up to 25% of their allocation for equipment and supplies. The bill also clarifies how population and mileage data are calculated for distribution purposes and requires contracts over certain thresholds to follow standard bidding procedures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill revises revenue distribution to fund local road construction and maintenance, increasing funding for essential public infrastructure services.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill revises revenue distribution to fund local road construction and maintenance, directly supporting transportation infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

Track