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MontanaSB 26469th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Eliminate a defense to the vehicle noise statute

Sponsored By: Russ Tempel (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Motor Vehicles

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

No defense for loud vehicle exhaust

The law bans driving a vehicle with exhaust noise over 95 decibels, measured by SAE J1169 (May 1998). Drivers can no longer claim they reasonably believed the vehicle met the limit. Officers and courts enforce the limit without that defense. This rule does not apply to motorcycles or quadricycles covered by Montana’s motorcycle noise law (61-9-418).

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Russ Tempel

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Neil Duram

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 194 • No: 105

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 52 • No: 47

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 73 • No: 27

Senate vote • 2/18/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 33 • No: 17

Senate vote • 2/15/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 36 • No: 14

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/8/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/5/2025Senate

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/25/2025Senate

  4. Signed by Speaker

    4/25/2025House

  5. Signed by President

    4/21/2025Senate

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/12/2025Senate

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/11/2025Senate

  8. 3rd Reading

    4/11/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading

    4/10/2025House

  10. Committee Report

    4/1/2025House

  11. Committee Executive Action

    3/31/2025House

  12. Fiscal Note Printed

    2/28/2025Senate

  13. Fiscal Note Signed

    2/27/2025Senate

  14. Revised Fiscal Note Received

    2/26/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    2/21/2025House

  16. 1st Reading

    2/19/2025House

  17. Referred to Committee

    2/19/2025House

  18. Fiscal Note Requested

    2/19/2025Senate

  19. Fiscal Note Requested

    2/19/2025House

  20. Transmitted to House

    2/18/2025Senate

  21. 3rd Reading

    2/18/2025Senate

  22. 2nd Reading

    2/15/2025Senate

  23. Committee Report

    2/13/2025Senate

  24. Committee Executive Action

    2/12/2025Senate

  25. Hearing

    2/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/4/2025

    PDF

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