All Roll Calls
Yes: 284 • No: 10
MontanaHB 70769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House
Require Corrections to consider inmate family connections during placement
Sponsored By: Jane Gillette (Republican)
Became Law
CourtsJudges and JusticesCorrectionsFamily Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Out-of-state placements must weigh family ties
The Department of Corrections must consider an inmate’s ties to family before placing or transferring them out of state. This helps inmates and families keep contact when possible.
New tools to manage prison overcrowding
If prisons exceed emergency capacity for 30 straight days, the Department of Corrections can pause new admissions. The director notifies sheriffs and district courts, and new inmates stay in local jails until the population drops to 95% or less of emergency capacity. If a local jail is full, an inmate can be held in another jurisdiction’s jail. The Department must reimburse the holding jurisdiction for extra days beyond normal transfer time and pay for medication, medical care, and hospital bills. The Department may contract with federal, other states, counties, and qualified public or private facilities to house inmates when capacity is exceeded or no suitable state facility exists, within budget limits and while honoring the family‑tie rule for out‑of‑state placements.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Jane Gillette
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Barry Usher
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/14/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 46 • No: 2
House 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
Chapter Number Assigned
5/13/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/8/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
5/1/2025HouseSigned by President
5/1/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/29/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/15/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/14/2025House3rd Reading Concurred
4/14/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
4/12/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred
4/9/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred
4/9/2025SenateHearing
4/7/2025SenateHearing Canceled
3/28/2025SenateHearing
3/20/2025SenateReferred to Committee
3/17/2025SenateFirst Reading
3/14/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
3/7/2025House3rd Reading Passed
3/7/2025House2nd Reading Passed
3/6/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed
3/1/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed
3/1/2025HouseHearing
2/25/2025HouseFirst Reading
2/25/2025HouseReferred to Committee
2/25/2025HouseIntroduced
2/24/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/14/2025
Introduced
2/24/2025