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MontanaSB 6569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Revise change-of-name laws

Sponsored By: Shelley Vance (Republican)

Became Law

Civil ProcedureCrimesCorrections

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Sealed name changes and corrections rules

You can ask the court to seal your name-change case if you show probable cause that your safety is at risk. You must ask for sealing in your petition, and the judge must find you are not avoiding debt or hiding a criminal record. If sealed, papers stay in the court’s permanent file and are withheld from inspection unless a judge allows access for good cause. If you are incarcerated or under Department of Corrections supervision, you must serve your petition on the department. The court must give the department a chance to respond, and the department must try to contact any victim for input. If your petition is granted while you are incarcerated or supervised, the court authorizes Corrections and the Department of Justice to keep and share your records as needed for offender registration, biological sample collection, victim notice, and other legal duties.

Name change notice and minor exemption

When you file a name-change case, the court may set a hearing. The court must publish the hearing time and place for four straight weeks in a county newspaper. If the county has no newspaper, the court posts the notice in at least three public places for four weeks. For a minor, no public notice is required if both parents and all legal guardians give written consent.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Shelley Vance

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Steven Kelly

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 296 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 98 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/3/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/31/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

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. Hearing Canceled

    3/31/2025House

  14. Hearing

    3/28/2025House

  15. First Reading

    2/4/2025House

  16. Referred to Committee

    2/4/2025House

  17. Transmitted to House

    2/3/2025Senate

  18. 3rd Reading Passed

    2/3/2025Senate

  19. 2nd Reading Passed

    1/31/2025Senate

  20. Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

    1/29/2025Senate

  21. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

    1/29/2025Senate

  22. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

    1/29/2025Senate

  23. Hearing

    1/15/2025Senate

  24. Referred to Committee

    1/14/2025Senate

  25. First Reading

    1/6/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/12/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    1/29/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    12/16/2024

    PDF

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