All Roll Calls
Yes: 483 • No: 7
MontanaHB 59269th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Generally revise agency rulemaking under MAPA
Sponsored By: Courtenay Sprunger (Republican)
Became Law
State GovernmentRule MakingLegislature
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Small-business and money impact review
Before adopting a rule, an agency must decide if it will significantly and directly affect small businesses. If yes, the proposal must include a small-business impact analysis that names affected groups, lists likely effects, and shows options to reduce harm. If a rule changes money people pay or receive, the proposal must estimate the total dollar change and how many people are affected, if known. If an economic impact statement is prepared, a separate small-business analysis is not required. The Office of Economic Development helps agencies with these reviews.
Changes apply to new proposals
The law takes effect on passage and approval. It applies to rule proposals published on or after that date.
More oversight of licensing boards
Before approving or disapproving certain licensing board actions, the commissioner must notify the board and the interim committee, give the board at least 30 days to respond, and may meet with the board. If the board gets no written notice within 30 days, the action is presumed approved. A board may request reconsideration within 10 days; the commissioner must issue a written decision within 10 days of the request or meeting. After the interim committee is notified, it may take public comment, review the decision, and may suspend the commissioner’s final determination.
Stronger checks on agency rules
Each department head must appoint a qualified reviewer, notify the secretary of state within 10 days, and have the reviewer sign each notice before filing. Rules must cite the exact legal authority and stay within clearly listed subjects. Agencies cannot fix major necessity defects in an adoption notice and must allow more comment if they amend the necessity statement. Agencies cannot adopt rules from October 1 to December 31 before a regular session, with exceptions for emergencies, when earlier adoption was impossible, or after giving the committee a 10‑business‑day objection window. The secretary of state keeps a permanent register, sets formatting, and may charge for copies. A rule takes effect after publication unless another law sets the date, and agencies cannot enforce rules before the effective date. If the rule review committee formally objects, the agency must prove in court it followed the law, and the court may award costs and attorney fees if the rule is invalid.
Stronger voice for bill sponsors
When an agency starts writing rules to carry out a new law, it must email the bill’s primary sponsor with dates and a timeline for comments and meetings. The agency must consider the sponsor’s comments before drafting. If the agency does not use the sponsor’s comments, it must explain why in the proposal and again when adopting the rule. The sponsor counts as an interested person and can ask the rule review committee for an economic impact statement that looks at ways to reduce costs. The proposal notice must say when and how the sponsor was contacted, and the agency must send the published notice to the sponsor within three days.
Easier online comments and access
Agencies must accept public comments by email and publish the comment email address in notices, the state directory, and online. They must keep emailed comments the same as other comments. Agencies may not charge a fee to send documents by email when someone asks for email delivery. When filing a proposal, agencies must also send an electronic copy to the rule review committee and post the notice online.
More notice time and clear reasons
Agencies must keep a list of interested people and topics and, within three days of publication, tell them the notice is online with a link or directions. With consent, agencies may send email alerts instead of mailing copies. Proposal notices must be published at least 30 days before action. Before changing rules, agencies must give at least 20 days’ hearing notice and at least 28 days to send comments. When a rule is adopted, the agency must issue a short statement of the main reasons for and against it and respond to key comments.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Courtenay Sprunger
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Lyn Bennett
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/17/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 99 • No: 0
House vote • 4/16/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 98 • No: 0
House vote • 4/9/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 47 • No: 2
House vote • 4/8/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 46 • No: 1
House vote • 3/7/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 98 • No: 1
House vote • 3/5/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 95 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/19/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/13/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
5/7/2025HouseSigned by President
5/6/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
5/2/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/23/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/18/2025House3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
4/17/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
4/16/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
4/9/2025Senate3rd Reading Concurred
4/9/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
4/8/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
4/5/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
4/4/2025SenateHearing
3/24/2025SenateReferred to Committee
3/14/2025SenateFirst Reading
3/14/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
3/7/2025House3rd Reading Passed
3/7/2025House2nd Reading Passed
3/5/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed as Amended
2/27/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended
2/27/2025HouseFiscal Note Printed
2/27/2025HouseFiscal Note Signed
2/26/2025HouseFiscal Note Received
2/26/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/22/2025
As Amended (Version 3)
4/5/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
2/27/2025
Introduced
2/19/2025