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MontanaSB 4169th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Requiring substitution of district court judges by random selection

Sponsored By: Daniel Emrich (Republican)

Became Law

CourtsJudges and Justices

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Montana courts use random replacement judges

When a district judge is replaced because they are substituted, disqualified for cause, or recused, the court uses a random process to pick the new judge. The process must try to choose a judge from a district reasonably close to the original judge’s district while staying random. The Office of the Court Administrator sets this process by October 1, 2025 and sends it to all district judges by October 15, 2025. Most of the law takes effect now; the random-selection rule starts October 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Daniel Emrich

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Tracy Sharp

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 176 • No: 119

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 56 • No: 43

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 56 • No: 41

Senate vote • 1/29/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 32 • No: 17

Senate vote • 1/28/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 32 • No: 18

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 Concurred

    4/11/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/10/2025House

  10. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    4/8/2025House

  11. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    4/8/2025House

  12. Hearing

    4/3/2025House

  13. Fiscal Note Printed

    2/26/2025Senate

  14. Fiscal Note Unsigned

    2/25/2025Senate

  15. Fiscal Note Received

    2/24/2025Senate

  16. Fiscal Note Requested

    2/19/2025Senate

  17. Fiscal Note Requested

    2/18/2025House

  18. First Reading

    1/30/2025House

  19. Referred to Committee

    1/30/2025House

  20. Transmitted to House

    1/29/2025Senate

  21. 3rd Reading Passed

    1/29/2025Senate

  22. 2nd Reading Passed

    1/28/2025Senate

  23. Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

    1/24/2025Senate

  24. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

    1/23/2025Senate

  25. Hearing

    1/10/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    1/24/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    12/12/2024

    PDF

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