# Montana HB 43: Generally revise motor vehicle traffic regulation laws Montana HB 43, Generally revise motor vehicle traffic regulation laws, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Denise Baum (Democrat); status signed, last action 2025-03-27 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB43-2025 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Montana HB 43 - State: Montana - Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) - Title: Generally revise motor vehicle traffic regulation laws - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2024-12-09 - Last action: 2025-03-27, Chapter Number Assigned - Sponsor: Denise Baum (Democrat) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Motor Vehicles - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (256 yes, 40 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Accessible parking standards and upkeep: benefit, low. Accessible parking built after September 30, 1985 must meet federal ADA rules in 28 CFR Part 36 as of February 10, 2021. Spaces must be kept clear of snow, pallets, carts, and other blockages. Officials may not ticket for an obstruction until they issue a warning and allow a reasonable time to clea… - Clearer bicycle and e-bike rules: benefit, low. You may ride on the roadway or a paved shoulder. Riders can go two abreast on paved shoulders. If you are slower than traffic, use the right lane or a paved shoulder when it is safe, with clear exceptions for passing, turning, and hazards. The law defines a paved shoulder and what counts as an elec… - Rules for resource road crossings: benefit, low. When crossings are marked with warning signs or devices, driving directly across a public road to move natural resource products may be treated as not operating on the public road. The rule applies only to adequately marked crossings. - Clearer rules for emergency vehicles: benefit, low. When an emergency vehicle uses lights or a siren, you must yield. Pull parallel to the right edge or curb, including the paved shoulder, and stay out of intersections. Remain stopped until the emergency vehicle passes. - Where traffic rules apply, consistency: benefit, low. Traffic and parking rules apply on any highway, road, alley, lane, parking area, or other place commonly used for public travel, even if privately owned. Courts and agencies must read Montana traffic laws to match how other states read similar laws when possible. - Stronger school bus safety and penalties: mixed, high. Drivers must stop about 30 feet from a school bus with red lights on and wait until the lights stop. Buses at crossing stops must use an extended stop arm at least 54 inches long and 36 inches high with extra red lights. If a bus loads or unloads off the roadway and kids stay off the road or paved… - Expanded removal of abandoned vehicles: mixed, low. Highway patrol, sheriffs, city police, tribal police (with agreements), and game wardens may take abandoned vehicles into custody after 48 hours on a public highway or 5 days on a city street, public land, or private property. Agencies can hire removal and storage and must pay up to the removal cha… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Denise Baum (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Denley Loge (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-24 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 30 | 19 | | | 2025-02-21 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 30 | 20 | | | 2025-01-21 | House | Do Pass | pass | 99 | 0 | | | 2025-01-20 | House | Do Pass | pass | 97 | 1 | | ## Actions (24) - 2025-03-27: Chapter Number Assigned (House) - 2025-03-27: Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-03-18: Transmitted to Governor (House) - 2025-03-18: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-03-07: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-02-26: Returned from Enrolling (House) - 2025-02-24: Sent to Enrolling (House) - 2025-02-24: 3rd Reading (Senate) - 2025-02-21: 2nd Reading (Senate) - 2025-02-20: 2nd Reading Pass Consideration (Senate) - 2025-01-30: Committee Report (Senate) - 2025-01-29: Committee Executive Action (Senate) - 2025-01-24: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-01-24: Referred to Committee (Senate) - 2025-01-22: 1st Reading (Senate) - 2025-01-21: Transmitted to Senate (House) - 2025-01-21: 3rd Reading (House) - 2025-01-20: 2nd Reading (House) - 2025-01-16: Committee Report (House) - 2025-01-15: Committee Executive Action (House) - 2025-01-10: Hearing (House) - 2025-01-06: 1st Reading (House) - 2024-12-20: Referred to Committee (House) - 2024-12-09: Introduced (House) ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-03-19: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5e275d1c-bbcf-4297-a4b9-44bd081f30c8) - As Amended (Version 3), 2025-02-25: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=d41b55ca-5015-44da-846e-c59ed1f14196) - As Amended (Version 2), 2025-01-16: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=f1191e58-f872-42f5-bade-086a86078dfe) - Introduced, 2024-12-09: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5ba0115e-af49-4d70-ac10-16fda468b9cd) ## 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 - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5e275d1c-bbcf-4297-a4b9-44bd081f30c8) - [As Amended (Version 3) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=d41b55ca-5015-44da-846e-c59ed1f14196) - [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=f1191e58-f872-42f5-bade-086a86078dfe) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5ba0115e-af49-4d70-ac10-16fda468b9cd) ## 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) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB43-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).