Rep. Bill Mercer

Maddy summaryHB 790 would allow the Department of Revenue (DOR) to request criminal history information from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its employees. It would require DOR employees who handle federal taxpayer information to submit fingerprints for background checks by both the Montana DOJ and the FBI. The DOJ would then share any criminal history records with the DOR. This measure aims to ensure compliance with federal requirements for accessing federal taxpayer information.

Maddy summaryHB 890 aimed to enhance the data available in the Criminal Justice Data Warehouse by requiring specific state agencies to contribute criminal history information. The bill mandated the Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, and the Judicial Branch to collaborate by October 1, 2025, to determine the most efficient way to provide criminal history data for district court convictions to the warehouse. If no consensus was reached, the Department of Corrections would be responsible for providing this information, ensuring convicted offenders' names are linked to their criminal histories. The bill also included a $2,000 appropriation for each of these three agencies to facilitate their collaboration.

Maddy summaryHB 688 would require counties that voted against legalizing recreational marijuana in 2020 (via Initiative Measure 190) to approve specific marijuana business types - like dispensaries, cultivation, or manufacturing - through local elections before new businesses can operate. Existing medical marijuana dispensaries could continue operating without new local approval, while new businesses would need local permission for categories such as adult-use dispensaries or testing labs. The bill also mandates specific ballot language for local votes on prohibiting these businesses and exempts counties that already approved Initiative Measure 190. Counties voting "no" on IM 190 must hold elections to allow or ban business types, with results requiring local government action to permit operations.

Maddy summaryHB 691 clarifies the purpose and requirements for Montana's existing criminal justice data warehouse, which collects and stores information from state and local agencies. The bill specifies that the warehouse must include detailed offender data - such as complete criminal histories, sentencing timelines, drug involvement in offenses, and pretrial release outcomes - to help officials make data-driven decisions about the justice system. State agencies, courts, and other entities are required to contribute data to the warehouse while retaining ownership of their information, with strict confidentiality protections outlined. This bill directly affects law enforcement, courts, and correctional agencies by standardizing how they share and use criminal justice data.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises laws concerning the reporting and tracking of child sexual abuse and exploitation cases. It requires county attorneys to gather all investigative materials, request assistance from the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to identify alleged perpetrators when needed, and certify receipt of reports. County attorneys must also report detailed case statuses, including the number of reports not prosecuted, to the Attorney General twice yearly. The Attorney General is then mandated to aggregate this information and report it to specific legislative committees, while DPHHS must advise the Attorney General on uncharged cases it believes warrant prosecution.

Maddy summaryHB 698 clarifies local government authority over marijuana businesses in Montana counties where voters rejected recreational cannabis (Initiative Measure 190 in 2020). It requires counties/municipalities to hold elections for voters to approve specific business types (like dispensaries or cultivators) before operations can begin, unless the county previously approved them. Existing medical dispensaries can continue operating without new local approval until their license renewal after 2022. The bill also mandates specific ballot language for prohibition votes (e.g., "FOR banning recreational dispensaries") and ensures municipalities over 5,000 people can vote separately on business types. This bill revises existing law (Section 16-12-301, MCA) without creating new statewide restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 546 would require that only legislative study groups with a majority of legislators can request new legislation. This applies to entities like committees, task forces, or councils (including the Montana Criminal Justice Oversight Council) that currently have non-legislator members. The bill’s key provision mandates that such groups must have at least half their members be legislators to formally ask for law changes. It does not alter the council’s duties or criminal justice policies, only the process for requesting legislative action. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 700 (HB 700) proposes to shorten the maximum amortization period for statewide defined benefit public employee retirement systems from 30 years to 25 years. This change directly affects the funding requirements for various public employee retirement plans, including those for general public employees, judges, highway patrol officers, sheriffs, police officers, firefighters, and teachers. The bill specifies that contributions must be sufficient to cover future benefits and amortize unfunded liabilities over this shorter 25-year period. Additionally, it establishes that no new benefits can be added to these systems unless they can amortize within 25 years or less and are projected to be fully funded.

Maddy summaryHB 613 revises the requirements for public libraries and public library districts to receive state aid in Montana. The bill mandates that libraries receiving state grants must provide matching funds, requiring $1 in cash for every $1 of the grant. These matching funds must be contributed by local or tribal governments and cannot come from other state or federal sources. To ensure compliance, a responsible official must certify that these matching fund requirements have been met.

Maddy summaryHB 741 proposes to generally revise state procurement laws, affecting how state governmental bodies acquire supplies and services from businesses and individuals. The bill updates definitions for various procurement-related terms, including "facility" and "services." A key provision is the revision of exceptions to these laws, which would bring more types of contracts, such as certain agreements made by the Montana State Lottery or the State Compensation Insurance Fund, under the state's procurement regulations. It also modifies which professional services are exempt from these rules.