Maddy summarySB 28 extends Montana's grace period for titling and registering vehicles after a transfer from 40 to 60 days. It directly affects new vehicle owners who must complete title applications and registration within this timeframe. The bill amends sections of Montana law to change "40-day" to "60-day" for the grace period under titling requirements (Section 61-3-218), registration deadlines (Section 61-3-220), and new registration rules (Section 61-3-317). It also extends the expiration date for temporary registration permits to 60 days. The change simplifies compliance by giving owners more time to fulfill these administrative requirements.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 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.
Maddy summarySB 101 creates new offenses for "unlawful squatting" (entering and staying on property without owner consent) and "fraudulent sale or lease" (advertising property for sale/rent without legal rights). Property owners gain clearer authority to request law enforcement removal of unauthorized occupants, with officers allowed to charge a service fee. Occupants convicted of unlawful squatting face misdemeanor penalties and must pay restitution equal to fair market rent for their stay. The bill also establishes a civil remedy for wrongful removal claims, allowing affected individuals to seek damages and attorney fees.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 5 (SB 5) revises the compensation for members of county tax appeal boards. It increases the daily pay for these board members when they meet to hear property tax appeals or attend state-level meetings. Specifically, the compensation for 4 hours of work or less will increase from $45 to $60, and for more than 4 hours, it will increase from $90 to $120. This change directly affects county tax appeal board members in Montana and will become effective on July 1, 2025.