# Montana HB 167: Generally revise election laws

Montana HB 167, Generally revise election laws, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Julie Darling (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-03 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB167-2025
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Montana HB 167
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Generally revise election laws
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-10
- Last action: 2025-04-03, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Julie Darling (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Elections
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (264 yes, 35 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger tracking for absentee ballots: benefit, low. The law tightens how Montana tracks absentee ballots. Ballots are paper and numbered in order starting at 1. Election administrators must record ballot numbers sent, delivered, or marked in person, how many are reserved for late voters, and the names of voters who got them. At poll opening, judges…
- No posted absentee list at polls: mixed, low. Chief election judges no longer post a list of absentee voters at the polling place. This lowers a posting task for poll workers. It also means voters do not see that list on-site. Records remain with the election administrator under the normal retention schedule. This takes effect immediately.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Julie Darling (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Shelley Vance (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Wendy McKamey (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-17 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 31 | 18 |   |
| 2025-03-15 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 33 | 17 |   |
| 2025-01-30 | House | Do Pass | pass | 100 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Do Pass | pass | 100 | 0 |   |

## Actions (23)

- 2025-04-03: Chapter Number Assigned (House)
- 2025-04-03: Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-03-25: Transmitted to Governor (House)
- 2025-03-24: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-03-18: Returned from Enrolling (House)
- 2025-03-17: Sent to Enrolling (House)
- 2025-03-17: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-15: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-25: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-02-24: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2025-01-30: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-01-29: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-01-23: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-01-23: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-01-15: Hearing (House)
- 2025-01-10: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-01-10: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-01-10: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- As Amended (Version 3), 2025-03-18: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=342654ac-db05-4b74-8419-05db5d2eed3a)
- Enrolled, 2025-03-18: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=e709af16-31e1-4e15-93b1-47148d40ea7a)
- As Amended (Version 2), 2025-01-23: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=b16f8089-4803-4429-8c14-288866a75964)
- Introduced, 2025-01-10: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=981ec1cc-1cdb-45eb-b35b-05518a35a34b)

## Related bills

- SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed)
- HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed)
- HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed)
- SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed)
- SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed)
- SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed)

## Sources
- [As Amended (Version 3) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=342654ac-db05-4b74-8419-05db5d2eed3a)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=e709af16-31e1-4e15-93b1-47148d40ea7a)
- [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=b16f8089-4803-4429-8c14-288866a75964)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=981ec1cc-1cdb-45eb-b35b-05518a35a34b)

## Related
- [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025)
- [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025)
- [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025)
- [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025)
- [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025)
- [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025)
- [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills)
- [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB167-2025 (as of 2026-10-12).