MontanaHB 11169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Adopt Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act

Sponsored By: Steve Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Became Law

Information TechnologyLegislature

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Fits with federal e-sign rules

This Act modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act for these topics. It does not change section 101(c) of that law. It does not allow electronic delivery of the notices listed in section 103(b).

Keep official online laws safe and open

Publishers must preserve and secure official legal material. If kept electronically, they must ensure integrity, backups, disaster recovery, and continuing usability. They must keep the material reasonably available to the public on a permanent basis.

Montana Code rules stay stable

The Montana Code Annotated is a reenactment of the Revised Codes of Montana, 1947, and its supplements. This does not revive laws repealed before the effective date. It does not change acts done, rights gained, or cases pending before that date. Nongeneral, nonpermanent statutes left out of the Code are not repealed.

Official online laws must be authenticated

If a publisher issues only electronic legal materials, it must name the online record as official. The publisher must provide a way for users to confirm the record is unchanged. An authenticated record is presumed accurate in court. Authenticated records from other states with similar laws get the same presumption.

Rules start October 1, 2025

Beginning October 1, 2025, these rules apply. They cover online legal material that is marked official and first published electronically on or after that date. All duties and legal effects in this Act start on that date.

Use common standards across states

When putting this law in place, publishers must consider national standards and other states’ practices. They must consider user needs and the views of officials and interested people. They should use methods that work with other Montana publishers and states with similar laws. Courts and agencies aim for uniform rules across states that adopt this Act.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Steve Fitzpatrick
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Mary Ann Dunwell
Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 278 • No: 20

House vote • 3/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 3/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 1/22/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 86 • No: 14

House vote • 1/21/2025