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MontanaHB 32369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Allow counties to pay reserve deputy sheriff's officers

Sponsored By: Steve Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Became Law

Local GovernmentCountiesCounty OfficersWages and Salaries

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Sheriff pay boosts and reserve deputy pay

The sheriff gets $2,000 more each year on top of the base salary. That $2,000 and any extra pay the commissioners grant count when computing undersheriff and deputy pay. The sheriff also gets longevity pay equal to 1% of the base‑plus‑$2,000 for each year of service. Discretionary sheriff pay does not change the longevity amount, and longevity pay is not used to compute undersheriff or deputy pay. County commissioners may choose to pay reserve deputy sheriffs and set how much and how to pay them.

Extra pay options for county officers

An elected county superintendent gets $400 more each year, or up to $2,000 with a qualifying master’s degree if the county approves. A clerk and recorder who also runs elections may get up to $2,000 more. The treasurer, clerk of district court, and justice of the peace may each get up to $2,000 more. A justice of the peace in a court of record may get extra pay up to the limit in 3‑10‑207. The $2,000 extras for the clerk/election role, treasurer, clerk of district court, and justice of the peace do not count when computing other officers’ or employees’ pay.

Raises and longevity for county attorneys

The county attorney’s pay is set by the compensation board schedule. When the uniform base salary goes up, the county attorney gets at least the same increase unless it would exceed a district court judge’s salary. Deputy county attorneys get longevity raises: +$1,000 at 4 years, +$1,500 at 5 years, and +$500 each year from years 6–11 (or more if the board’s schedule allows). Service before July 1, 1985 must be counted. Years earned after the 11th year that were before July 1, 2015 do not count toward longevity.

Local board sets county officer pay

The law creates a county compensation board to review pay each year and recommend a schedule for the next fiscal year. County commissioners set a single uniform base salary for listed county officers based on that schedule. A recommendation needs a majority that includes at least two commissioners, and it cannot cut any salary that was in place on May 1, 2001. These rules do not apply to charter or consolidated city‑counties.

Counties may set coroners part-time

A county may make the coroner job part‑time and set a part‑time salary. This can mean fewer hours and lower pay for coroners where the county chooses this option.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Steve Fitzpatrick

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Dave Fern

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 276 • No: 18

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 1

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 0

House vote • 2/20/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 91 • No: 8

House vote • 2/19/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 91 • No: 9

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/8/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/5/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/25/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/25/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/23/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/16/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/11/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/11/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/10/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    4/9/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    4/7/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    3/20/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Committee

    3/19/2025Senate

  14. Fiscal Note Printed

    3/7/2025House

  15. Fiscal Note Unsigned

    3/7/2025House

  16. Fiscal Note Received

    3/7/2025House

  17. Fiscal Note Requested

    3/3/2025Senate

  18. First Reading

    2/21/2025Senate

  19. Transmitted to Senate

    2/20/2025House

  20. 3rd Reading Passed

    2/20/2025House

  21. 2nd Reading Passed

    2/19/2025House

  22. Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

    2/12/2025House

  23. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

    2/11/2025House

  24. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

    2/11/2025House

  25. Hearing

    1/30/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/16/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/12/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/28/2025

    PDF

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