Transportation

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 1941: Generally revise the route of the Lewis and Clark Highway

This bill updates the official route of Montana's Lewis and Clark Highway by amending state law to specify its path through the state. The legislation primarily affects the Montana Department of Transportation and local communities along the highway corridor, particularly in Missoula. A key provision requires the highway to avoid running between South Higgins Avenue and Arthur Avenue north of 6th South Street in Missoula, instead mandating that officials consult with Missoula County and the city to find an alternate route that minimizes travel through residential neighborhoods. The rest of the highway route remains unchanged, continuing from the Idaho border through Lolo, Missoula, Garrison, and ending at the North Dakota state line.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill updates highway route to avoid problematic areas, improving transportation infrastructure and community planning in Missoula85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 2357: Revise laws relating to automobile businesses and electric and hybrid vehicles

This bill prohibits automobile manufacturers, distributors, and related entities from requiring dealers to sell electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. It declares such mandatory sales requirements against public policy and voids any contract provisions that violate this rule. The legislation also expands existing dealer protections by preventing manufacturers from coercing dealers into exclusive arrangements, forced advertising contributions, or specific vendor contracts without dealer choice. These changes aim to give dealers more freedom in how they operate their businesses and what vehicles they choose to sell.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill promotes electric and hybrid vehicles, supports sustainable transportation, and protects dealer autonomy in vehicle sales.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 21, 2025

LC 783: Revise right-of-way laws for roundabouts

This bill updates Montana's right-of-way rules for roundabouts and rotary traffic islands to clarify how vehicles should navigate these intersections. It directly affects drivers, towing vehicles, and local transportation authorities by establishing specific procedures for entering and circulating around roundabouts. The law requires vehicles already in a roundabout to have the right-of-way over approaching traffic, mandates that drivers stay to the right of the center, and includes special rules for towing vehicles, such as allowing them to cross lanes when signaling and giving priority to towing vehicles on the left when two enter simultaneously. Additionally, the bill formally defines a roundabout as a circular intersection where all entering traffic must yield to vehicles already inside.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill clarifies and improves roundabout right-of-way rules, enhancing traffic safety and transportation infrastructure efficiency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 20, 2025

LC 2103: Establish FWP wildlife highway crossings and accommodation account

This bill creates a dedicated funding account in Montana to support the design, construction, and maintenance of wildlife highway crossings and accommodations. It authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Commission to launch a specialty license plate program that generates $20 per plate to fund these projects. The account can be used for building underpasses and overpasses, conducting studies, and reimbursing the Department of Transportation for eligible wildlife crossing projects. Money in the account earns interest and remains available for future use, ensuring ongoing support for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and protecting wildlife movement across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated funding account for wildlife crossings through specialty license plates, increasing state funding for conservation infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds wildlife highway crossings to protect biodiversity and reduce animal-vehicle collisions, directly supporting environmental conservation.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates dedicated funding for wildlife highway crossings, directly supporting transportation infrastructure and road safety through underpasses and overpasses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 4211: Revise allocations of coal trust revenue

This bill revises how interest earned from Montana's Coal Severance Tax Permanent Fund is distributed to various state accounts and programs. It directly affects state agencies and public services that receive funding from these coal tax revenues. The key provision extends the termination date for certain highway-related appropriations from June 30, 2027 to June 30, 2029, while maintaining existing allocation percentages for libraries, conservation districts, agriculture, parks, and other state programs. The legislation amends multiple existing statutes to update these distribution rules and ensure continued funding for designated state services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill extends funding for highways and maintains allocations for libraries, conservation, agriculture, and parks from coal tax revenues, strengthening state budget and public service funding.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill extends highway-related appropriations funding dates from 2027 to 2029, maintaining existing allocation percentages for transportation infrastructure.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 3222: Generally revise department of motor vehicles laws

This bill revises Montana's driver licensing laws to expand access to driver's license examinations and adjust age requirements for licensing. It requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide driver's examinations in every county at least once per month if requested, and allows minors as young as 13 to obtain restricted licenses under specific hardship circumstances. The legislation also clarifies eligibility criteria by specifying conditions under which individuals cannot be licensed, including requirements for verifying lawful presence in the United States for non-citizen applicants. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands driver licensing access and allows minors to obtain restricted licenses, improving transportation accessibility and mobility options.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Vehicle Registration

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 25, 2025

LC 1974: Create a county road maintenance district

This bill creates a new type of county road maintenance district in Montana that allows local property owners to organize and fund road upkeep for roads previously maintained by the county. The district can be established when at least 66% of property owners in an area sign a petition requesting the district, after which the county must hold a public hearing and create the district if the petition meets requirements. Costs for road maintenance within the district are assessed against benefited properties based on the benefits received, and the county must reduce its general property tax levy by the amount the district collects to avoid double taxation. The bill also defines maintenance activities to include snow removal, graveling, sealing, and traffic system repairs, and allows the district to contract with public or private entities to perform maintenance work.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new funding mechanism for road maintenance through local property assessments, strengthening local infrastructure financing and fiscal management.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates new funding mechanism for road maintenance, directly supporting transportation infrastructure by allowing property owners to organize and fund upkeep of roads previously maintained by county.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 20, 2024

LC 1473: Revise right-of-way laws

This bill updates Montana's right-of-way laws to explicitly include broadband lines and natural gas pipelines alongside existing utilities like telephone, electric, and telegraph lines. It authorizes companies and public bodies to install and maintain these infrastructure systems along public roads, streets, and highways by constructing necessary fixtures such as posts and piers. The legislation requires that all installations must not inconvenience or endanger the public while using these roads, and it clarifies that this law does not limit the authority of city or town councils to regulate such installations.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill expands right-of-way laws to include natural gas pipelines and broadband infrastructure, facilitating energy infrastructure development and utility expansion.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands broadband infrastructure access by including broadband lines in right-of-way laws, promoting internet access and digital connectivity.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands infrastructure rights-of-way for utilities and pipelines alongside roads, enhancing transportation infrastructure capacity and safety standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Broadband Access Telecommunications

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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

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Nov 18, 2024

LC 172: Allow for platooning vehicles

This bill allows trucks and other heavy vehicles to operate in platoons on Montana highways, where they travel closely together using electronic coordination to maintain speed and distance. It requires anyone driving the lead vehicle or positioned to take control of a platoon vehicle to hold a commercial driver's license. The Montana Department of Transportation will have authority to create rules that can restrict platooning during dangerous road conditions, though it may exempt vehicles proven safe in those conditions. The law also mandates that the department consult with various stakeholders, including trucking companies, law enforcement, and local governments, before establishing these rules. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables platooning technology for heavy vehicles, advancing automated driving systems and electronic coordination on highways.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enables platooning technology to improve highway efficiency and reduce congestion, advancing transportation infrastructure and modernizing vehicle regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Autonomous Vehicles Driver Licensing Freight

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