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MontanaHB 70769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Require Corrections to consider inmate family connections during placement

Sponsored By: Jane Gillette (Republican)

Signed by Governor

CourtsJudges and JusticesCorrectionsFamily Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Emergency rules for prison overcrowding and housing

If a prison or the state system stays over its emergency capacity for 30 straight days, the director may declare an emergency. The department can pause new admissions to that prison or system until the population falls to 95% or less of emergency capacity. Inmates stay in department custody and are held in the local detention center that has them, or another county’s open facility if needed. The department reimburses the holding jurisdiction for costs after the normal delivery time to a Montana prison, at a mutually agreed rate that covers reasonable costs. The department pays for medicine, medical care, and hospital stays for people held under this rule. The department may contract with the federal government, other states, counties, or public or private corporations to confine inmates when capacity is exceeded or special housing is needed. Out-of-state placements must still follow the family-attachment rule.

Keep family ties in out-of-state transfers

The Department of Corrections must consider an inmate’s ties to family before placing or moving them to a prison outside Montana. The agency must weigh how the person can keep contact with family. The law does not set a formula for measuring family ties.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jane Gillette

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Barry Usher

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 284 • No: 10

Senate vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 46 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 48 • No: 1

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 95 • No: 4

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 95 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/13/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/8/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/1/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/1/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/29/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/15/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/14/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading

    4/14/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading

    4/12/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report

    4/9/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action

    4/9/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    4/7/2025Senate

  13. Hearing Canceled

    3/28/2025Senate

  14. Hearing

    3/20/2025Senate

  15. Referred to Committee

    3/17/2025Senate

  16. 1st Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  17. Transmitted to Senate

    3/7/2025House

  18. 3rd Reading

    3/7/2025House

  19. 2nd Reading

    3/6/2025House

  20. Committee Report

    3/1/2025House

  21. Committee Executive Action

    3/1/2025House

  22. Hearing

    2/25/2025House

  23. 1st Reading

    2/25/2025House

  24. Referred to Committee

    2/25/2025House

  25. Introduced

    2/24/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/14/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/24/2025

    PDF

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