# Montana SB 286: Clarify value of caselaw interpreting a statute after subsequent legislative action

Montana SB 286, Clarify value of caselaw interpreting a statute after subsequent legislative action, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) Senate bill sponsored by Daniel Emrich (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-08 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB286-2025
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Montana SB 286
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Clarify value of caselaw interpreting a statute after subsequent legislative action
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-07
- Last action: 2025-05-08, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Daniel Emrich (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (165 yes, 133 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Courts follow new laws over old rulings: mixed, low. The law says that when the Legislature later changes the same statute, those changes control over earlier court readings. Courts follow the new statute, not the prior case. This rule applies to Montana laws and guides judges, lawyers, and people in court. It clarifies who sets the rule, but reduces…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Daniel Emrich (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Greg Overstreet (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-11 | House | Do Concur | pass | 56 | 43 |   |
| 2025-04-10 | House | Do Concur | pass | 58 | 42 |   |
| 2025-02-24 | Senate | Do Pass | pass | 25 | 24 |   |
| 2025-02-21 | Senate | Do Pass | pass | 26 | 24 |   |

## Actions (23)

- 2025-05-08: Chapter Number Assigned (Senate)
- 2025-05-05: Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Transmitted to Governor (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-21: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-04-13: Returned from Enrolling (Senate)
- 2025-04-11: Sent to Enrolling (Senate)
- 2025-04-11: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-04-10: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-04-03: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-04-03: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-03-28: Hearing (House)
- 2025-02-25: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-02-25: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-02-24: Transmitted to House (Senate)
- 2025-02-24: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: Introduced (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2025-04-12: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5e2e6bc5-4df0-4db8-a37d-ae0c536690b7)
- Introduced, 2025-02-07: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=cef4e4d7-5766-4961-ac7a-097cff5158f8)

## Related bills

- SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed)
- HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed)
- HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed)
- SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed)
- SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed)
- SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5e2e6bc5-4df0-4db8-a37d-ae0c536690b7)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=cef4e4d7-5766-4961-ac7a-097cff5158f8)

## Related
- [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025)
- [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025)
- [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025)
- [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025)
- [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025)
- [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025)
- [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills)
- [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB286-2025 (as of 2026-10-12).