Maddy summarySB 439 would require Montana courts and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to share voter address changes with county election administrators. It mandates annual verification of voter addresses by comparing registration lists to national address change files and utility company data, sending confirmation notices to voters with outdated addresses. Voters who don’t respond to these notices would be moved to an inactive list until they confirm their address, with all processes needing completion 90 days before federal elections. The bill directly affects voter registration maintenance procedures across Montana, aiming to improve list accuracy by integrating data from multiple state agencies. (Note: The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.)
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 525 would allow Montana public school districts and public charter schools to hire paid or volunteer chaplains to provide student support services, such as counseling or religious programs. Schools adopting this program would need written parental consent for student participation, must disclose chaplains' religious affiliations online, and require background checks for chaplains (who must be 18+ and of good moral character). The bill permits schools to use chaplains instead of school counselors for required duties but does not mandate chaplains in any school. It applies specifically to Montana public schools and requires new policies to meet minimum standards before implementation.
Maddy summarySB 478 would require Montana's public universities to cover medical costs for students who develop specific vaccine-related health conditions after receiving mandated COVID-19 vaccinations. Students would need to submit proof of vaccination (to comply with school attendance rules), a medical diagnosis of one of five listed conditions (like heart inflammation or blood clotting disorders), and cost records to their institution for reimbursement. The bill covers diagnosis, treatment, and lost wages related to those conditions, as defined by the Board of Regents. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.
Maddy summarySB 477 would revise Montana's land division rules to clarify exemptions for transfers to immediate family members. It allows landowners to divide property within approved subdivisions for gifts or sales to family without full subdivision review, provided parcels meet minimum size requirements (5 acres in zoning districts) and taxes are paid. The bill requires a public hearing, an affidavit confirming the transfer isn't evading regulations, and a 2-year ownership hold period for family recipients. These changes aim to streamline family land transfers while maintaining survey, zoning, and tax compliance.
Maddy summarySB 185 is a constitutional amendment bill that would require U.S. citizenship for voting in Montana. It proposes amending Article IV, Section 2 of the Montana Constitution to state that only U.S. citizens aged 18 or older who meet registration and residency requirements can be qualified voters, excluding those serving felony sentences or deemed mentally incompetent by a court. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, this would change Montana's voting eligibility rules. The bill died in the Senate on May 23, 2025, and did not advance to a voter ballot.
Maddy summarySB 298 revises Montana's election administration by granting the secretary of state direct supervisory authority over county election administrators. It requires county election administrators (typically county clerks) to comply with the secretary's directions regarding voter registration, election management, and reporting. The bill clarifies that county clerks serve as default election administrators and must provide requested information on election operations. These changes, effective July 1, 2025, aim to standardize election oversight across counties.
Maddy summarySB 127, introduced in Montana, would have allowed individuals to defend themselves against serious crimes like assault, robbery, or kidnapping using reasonable force without facing legal jeopardy. The key provision required prosecutors to reimburse defendants for attorney fees and out-of-pocket costs if they successfully defended themselves in court and were not convicted of the specific charge. This reimbursement would come from the prosecutor’s budget, not the defendant, but only for cases where the self-defense argument succeeded. The bill died in the legislative process after failing its third reading in March 2025 and did not become law.
Maddy summarySB 479 proposes to revise Montana laws around chemical abortion by requiring health care providers to physically examine patients, be present during administration, schedule a follow-up within 7 days, and provide disposal kits (catch kits and medical waste bags) for patients to return used materials. It holds manufacturers of abortion drugs responsible for environmental cleanup if drug byproducts contaminate wastewater systems, with fines up to $20,000 per violation. The bill exempts life-threatening medical emergencies and prohibits prosecuting patients for violations. This legislation directly affects health care providers prescribing abortion drugs and pharmaceutical manufacturers, with penalties including felony charges for providers violating the requirements. The bill died in process in May 2025 and was never enacted.
Maddy summarySB 494 would require Montana election administrators to test new voting systems for functionality before use and after major changes like upgrades or hardware transfers. It mandates that administrators print, examine, and retain voting system audit logs and vote records for 22 months, with certain logs required to be kept permanently as public records. The bill also specifies that counties using vote-counting machines must retain these audit logs in perpetuity for public access. These changes aim to improve election transparency and verification by standardizing how voting system data is documented and preserved.
Maddy summarySB 440 requires new public reporting of statewide election results by county election administrators and the Secretary of State. It mandates county election administrators to create and publicly post a detailed spreadsheet, including information on registered voters, various ballot types, and precinct-level data, before the county canvass. The Secretary of State then compiles this county data into a comprehensive reconciliation report, which must be publicly available and presented to the legislature before the state certifies election results. The bill also establishes a process for addressing any discrepancies found in county results, involving county officials, legislative leadership, and potentially the legislative audit committee.