MontanaHB 39369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Require towns to record meetings in audio format

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Boards must record and post meetings

The law requires listed boards to record public meetings in audio and video. State boards must post recordings within 1 business day by broadcast or on their website. Counties, first- and second-class cities, school boards, and local health boards have 5 business days. Counties under 4,500 people and third-class cities or towns over 300 may post audio only within 14 business days. If a board has no website, it must post the link on a social media page. These rules apply to publicly noticed public meetings.

State broadcast can air executive content

The Department of Administration can agree with Legislative Services to broadcast executive branch content. It can air on the state broadcast service or be live-streamed online. This helps the public watch executive meetings and materials.

Schools can treat recording costs as facilities

School districts can treat recording costs as a school facility project. This covers staff, consultants, equipment, software, storage, and security needed to comply. It lets districts use facility funding rules to cover these costs.

Recordings aren’t the official record

For boards that keep written minutes, recordings under this law are not the official record. If not official, a recording may be deleted after one year online. Those non-official recordings are not subject to the state public information request law.

Limits and backup rules for recordings

Recordings are required only when a board acts on business under its power at a publicly noticed meeting. A county board does not need a recording when a quorum forms only from sharing office space. If a tech failure stops a recording or posting, the meeting can continue. The board must post a public notice where links normally appear. It must explain the issue and steps 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: 88

House vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 37 • No: 11

House 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