MontanaHB 39369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Require towns to record meetings in audio format

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Local boards post videos in 5 days

County, city, school district, and local health boards must record meetings in audio and video. They must post the recording with a link on the board’s website within 5 business days. If a board has no website, it must keep a social media page and post the link there. The rules apply only to properly noticed public meetings on matters within the board’s authority.

Small towns can post audio only

Very small jurisdictions have simpler rules. Counties with fewer than 4,500 people and third‑class cities or towns over 300 people may record meetings in audio only. They must post the audio with a link on the board’s website within 14 business days. This applies only to properly noticed public meetings on matters within the board’s authority.

State boards post videos in 1 day

Certain state boards must record public meetings in audio and video. They must post the recording within 1 business day. They use the state broadcast service or the board’s website. This applies only to properly noticed public meetings on matters within the board’s authority.

Schools can fund recording costs

School districts can treat meeting‑recording costs as a school facility project. This covers staff, consultants, equipment, software, storage, and security needed to meet the recording rules. This helps districts budget and pay for compliance under existing facility funding rules.

Local recordings kept online one year

For many local boards that keep minutes, meeting recordings are not the official record. If a recording is not the official record, the board keeps it online for one year and may then delete it. Those recordings are not covered by public‑information request rules.

Narrow exception for incidental quorum

When a quorum happens only because members share the same office space, the board does not have to record. This narrow exception follows 7‑5‑2122(4) and (5).

If tech fails, notice required

Boards do not have to delay or reschedule a meeting if recording or posting fails because of a tech problem. They must clearly post a notice where recordings are usually posted. The notice must explain why there is no recording and what will be done to fix it before the next meeting.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Brad Barker
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Gayle Lammers
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 208 • No: 89

Senate vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 37 • No: 11

Senate vote • 4/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 36 • No: 14

House vote • 2/24/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 69 • No: 30

House vote • 2/22/2025