This bill changes how vehicle registration fees are calculated in Montana, particularly for newer and more expensive vehicles. It directly affects vehicle owners by adjusting registration costs based on a vehicle's age and manufacturer's suggested retail price. The key provision introduces an additional fee of 1% of the vehicle's price for the first year of registration for cars costing over $150,000 that are 10 years old or newer. Revenue from these fees will be allocated to special state accounts to fund highway patrol salaries, victim services, and local bridge projects. The bill also repeals an existing section and updates several state codes related to vehicle registration and fee collection.
This bill revises Montana's traffic laws regarding fleeing from or eluding a peace officer by clarifying penalties and reorganizing provisions within Title 61, Chapter 8. It establishes three tiers of offenses: a standard misdemeanor for refusing to stop after being signaled by a uniformed officer, a felony for repeat offenders or those who exhibit reckless driving, cause significant property damage, or leave the state, and a more severe felony for incidents resulting in serious bodily injury or death. The law applies to drivers who knowingly fail to obey visual or audible signals from police vehicles, including those who increase speed, continue driving above the limit, or extinguish their lights to evade an officer. Penalties range from up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine for basic violations to up to ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine for aggravated cases involving injury or death.
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.
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.
This bill requires school buses purchased in Montana on or after January 1, 2026, to be equipped with lap-shoulder belts for all passengers. School districts must create and enforce policies requiring belt use and maintain the equipment in working order. The legislation also provides liability protections for districts and drivers if students are injured due to not wearing belts or because another student used a belt improperly, while still allowing claims if a belt is broken or poorly maintained. Districts may request an exemption from the belt requirement if they determine their budget cannot cover the cost of new buses with lap-shoulder belts, subject to a public vote. The bill also updates definitions for school bus capacity and registration fee structures related to buses with lap-shoulder belts.
This bill requires the Montana Department of Transportation to automatically suspend a driver's license or driving privilege for anyone caught driving without valid auto insurance. The law mandates a six-month suspension for a first offense, one year for a second offense, and one year for a third or subsequent offense within the specified time period. The bill also outlines conditions for restoring driving privileges, including completing chemical dependency treatment if required, and allows for probationary licenses only after meeting specific court and program requirements.
This bill updates Montana laws to regulate public charging stations for electric vehicles by establishing clear definitions, tax requirements, and metering standards. It directly affects charging station operators, owners, and public utilities by requiring new stations to have separate electric meters starting in 2023 and mandating that all existing public charging stations be metered by 2025. The legislation also introduces a 3-cent per kilowatt-hour tax on electricity used at public charging stations and requires operators to display charging rates at their sites. Additionally, the bill reduces electric vehicle registration fees by 30% beginning in 2028 and requires charging station owners to register their facilities with the Department of Transportation.
This bill updates Montana's motor vehicle laws by making several changes to vehicle registration, licensing, and related administrative processes. It adds the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the list of U.S. territories whose driver's licenses are recognized, expands electronic services for the Department of Transportation, and adjusts the minimum age requirements for certain driver's licenses. The legislation also revises how disability parking permits are issued, clarifies definitions of personal information for data security purposes, and modifies expiration rules for commercial driver's licenses. These changes primarily affect drivers, vehicle owners, healthcare providers issuing disability permits, and state agencies administering motor vehicle services.
This bill creates a special motorcycle license plate program in Montana to promote rider safety and awareness. Motorcycle owners who register for these plates will pay a $5 administrative fee, a $5 plate fee, and a $20 donation fee. The $20 donation portion goes to a state fund where the Department of Justice will distribute grants to Montana-based nonprofit organizations that focus on motorcycle safety education. The bill also adds this new funding source to the list of statutory appropriations, allowing the department to spend the money without needing annual legislative approval.
SB 324 revises vehicle registration fees for high-end vehicles, adding a 1% fee based on the vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the first year of registration after January 1, 2026, for cars over $150,000 and motorhomes over $300,000. It directly affects owners of these high-value vehicles, replacing a flat annual add-on fee with the percentage-based assessment. Revenue from these fees will fund two specific programs: grants for bridge projects through the Department of Transportation and services for crime victims via the Board of Crime Control. The bill also updates related sections of Montana law governing registration fees and special revenue accounts.
