PRIA Logo™
MontanaHB 36569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Revise laws relating to attorney fees and costs based on legislative conduct

Sponsored By: Steve Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Signed by Governor

LegislatureCourtsEvidenceJudges and JusticesState Government

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Courts cannot use lawmaker conduct for fees

Courts cannot use legislative conduct to decide bad faith or to award costs or attorney fees against a government defending a law. This bar applies even when the government's defense is found frivolous or in bad faith. Courts may still award fees based on the government's own litigation conduct, but not on the Legislature's actions. The law takes effect on passage and approval. It applies retroactively to laws passed on or after the start of the 69th legislative session.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Steve Fitzpatrick

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Sue Vinton

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 178 • No: 120

Senate vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 31 • No: 17

Senate vote • 4/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 32 • No: 18

House vote • 2/19/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 57 • No: 43

House vote • 2/18/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 58 • No: 42

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

    4/14/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading

    4/14/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading

    4/12/2025Senate

  10. 2nd Reading Pass Consideration

    4/11/2025Senate

  11. Committee Report

    3/21/2025Senate

  12. Committee Executive Action

    3/20/2025Senate

  13. Hearing

    3/18/2025Senate

  14. Referred to Committee

    3/1/2025Senate

  15. 1st Reading

    2/20/2025Senate

  16. Transmitted to Senate

    2/19/2025House

  17. 3rd Reading

    2/19/2025House

  18. 2nd Reading

    2/18/2025House

  19. Committee Report

    2/12/2025House

  20. Committee Executive Action

    2/12/2025House

  21. Committee Executive Action

    2/12/2025House

  22. Hearing

    2/4/2025House

  23. 1st Reading

    1/31/2025House

  24. Referred to Committee

    1/31/2025House

  25. Introduced

    1/31/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/31/2025

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation