MontanaSB 42869th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Generally revise county speed limits

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Safer, clearer school zone speeds

School zones and areas near senior centers or certain crosswalks cannot be posted below 15 mph when limits are lowered. Local governments must post signs showing you entered the school zone, the new speed, the penalty, and where the zone ends. If a school zone includes a state highway, locals must consult the Department of Transportation and the state commission. They must also consult the school district when setting or changing a zone near a school.

State sets speeds on highways

The state transportation commission sets special speed limits on state highways, including in cities and urban areas. These limits follow state rules, not local ones. Drivers on those roads follow the commission’s posted speeds.

Misdemeanors for breaking posted speeds

Violating a posted local speed limit set under this law is a misdemeanor. Breaking limits from the general local rules is punished under 61-8-711. Breaking a school‑zone limit is punished under 61-8-726.

Local control of speed limits

Local governments can raise or lower speed limits after a traffic study when needed. They can use time‑of‑day limits and must post signs; the change starts when signs go up. On arterial streets they set reasonable posted speeds. Guardrails apply: at night in urban areas no higher than 65 mph; outside urban areas no lower than 35 mph on paved roads and 25 mph on paved or unpaved roads. County commissioners may set these county‑road limits without a study, and unpaved roads must have one limit for all vehicle types.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Willis Curdy
Democrat • Senate

Cosponsors

Neil Duram
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 211 • No: 85

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 72 • No: 27

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 77 • No: 22

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 31 • No: 18