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MontanaHB 91369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Authorize transfers and other necessary measures to implement HB2 Section D

Sponsored By: Fiona Nave (Republican)

Signed by Governor

State FinanceAppropriationsCorrectionsJudges and JusticesLegislature

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

No automatic public defender in child cases

Beginning July 1, 2025, courts no longer must appoint the Office of State Public Defender in child abuse or neglect cases under 41-3-422. This ends the guaranteed right to a court-appointed lawyer for indigent parents, children, parties covered by Indian Child Welfare laws, and putative fathers in those cases. You may need to hire your own lawyer or find other help.

One-time $40,000 for missing persons task force

By July 15, 2025, the state treasurer transfers $40,000 from the general fund to the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force account. This is a one-time payment.

Two more judges in 13th district

Beginning July 1, 2025, the 13th Judicial District has 10 judges, up from 8. This adds two judges to help reduce wait times for hearings and decisions.

DOC must report prison communications

From July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, the Department of Corrections reports at each interim committee meeting on stopping illicit communications at Montana State Prison. The DOC also files quarterly numbers on inmate emails and messages, how many were blocked, audit results on false positives and negatives, monitoring methods and costs, and any scanning mistakes.

Sets standard jail daily cost

Beginning July 1, 2025, “actual cost” for housing someone in a local detention center is the higher of $85.30 per inmate per day or the daily provider rate for Crossroads Correctional Facility minus 10%. This standard rate guides what arresting agencies and the state pay counties and cities for detention days. If another law (HB 643) also amends this same section, that change is void; this law’s change controls.

Study state legal services and pay

The state studies whether to combine legal services across agencies and reviews lawyer pay. The Department of Administration must report by September 15, 2025 on pay rates, differences, and how pay is set. The committee must finish by September 15, 2026 and share recommendations. This section only applies if House Bill 2 gives at least $25,000 to DoA and $20,000 to the Legislative Fiscal Division for the study. This section ends September 30, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Fiona Nave

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Laura Smith

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 646 • No: 151

House vote • 4/30/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 91 • No: 9

House vote • 4/29/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 58 • No: 42

Senate vote • 4/25/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 33 • No: 16

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

AMD-HB0913.003.006 Galt D/PASS

Yes: 49 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

Do Concur As Amended

Yes: 31 • No: 19

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

AMD-HB0913.003.004 Kassmier D/PASS

Yes: 26 • No: 24

House vote • 4/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 94 • No: 4

House vote • 4/3/2025

AMD-HB0913.002.001 Crowe DO PASS

Yes: 96 • No: 4

House vote • 4/3/2025

Do Pass As Amended

Yes: 97 • No: 3

House vote • 4/3/2025

AMD-HB0913.002.002 Mercer DO PASS

Yes: 71 • No: 29

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/19/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/7/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/6/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/5/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    5/1/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/30/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/30/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/29/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/25/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading

    4/25/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading

    4/23/2025Senate

  13. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    4/23/2025Senate

  14. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    4/23/2025Senate

  15. Committee Report

    4/18/2025Senate

  16. Committee Executive Action

    4/18/2025Senate

  17. Hearing

    4/14/2025Senate

  18. Revised Fiscal Note Printed

    4/11/2025House

  19. Fiscal Note Unsigned

    4/9/2025House

  20. Revised Fiscal Note Received

    4/8/2025House

  21. Referred to Committee

    4/7/2025Senate

  22. 1st Reading

    4/7/2025Senate

  23. Transmitted to Senate

    4/5/2025House

  24. 3rd Reading

    4/5/2025House

  25. Revised Fiscal Note Requested

    4/4/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/30/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 4)

    4/23/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    4/4/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/1/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    3/28/2025

    PDF

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