[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6353964,"mediaKeyId","2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c","parentId",2220778,"title","Votes at a glance: Third-reading bills passed by the Montana House","audioSeconds",271,"startMs",4184000,"endMs",4455000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c&start=4184&end=4455","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c/thumbnail_4184000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353964/Montana/Votes-at-a-glance-Third-reading-bills-passed-by-the-Montana-House","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353964-d3247751fca8b5daecacfda958e4fe54/orig.mp4?Expires=1776053045&Signature=LjHKxt2d37DZDlSLJPYB1hH0qiOjHu~S3B9jg3kaGz816UZ4MltXzGtaEeUF~NgJZDYqEz6hQvWtNTNrpe9Ei4ncLg~uJBIEoJ6clmngnd3GCroFduF492tVu08~YnuloiVzqnmL6H2rtGDGlN4sH0MjU9KRnY~FvYAZb--818QQkWUCcw9mQNKkMttss3Weit~CMN67Ec-O1ng3kISub2ZqAMlkPDAwWaN7Fg4kZhPV9fDTK5ZyxpuRPTPtr7g9pQlHav9sMoics2GXxtrM-ECpphnC~5c-VEBze9JPXCQRf8fWCU1g-5FQ7MKWRPHPYhc65ucYmuWtrL31hXWwqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Several bills received final consideration on third reading during the session and the House recorded votes on each. Below are the bills read and their recorded outcomes as shown in the transcript.

- House Bill 176 (Manus) — \"Require unlimited wolf hunting quota when population is at or above 450 wolves.\" Vote: 56 ayes, 44 no. Outcome: Passed.

- House Bill 156 (BD) — \"Revise education funding laws by replacing school district based levies with countywide based levies.\" Vote: 81 ayes, 19 no. Outcome: Passed.

- House Bill 179 (Mitchell) — \"Revise election laws related to inactive voter status.\" Vote: 58 ayes, 42 no. Outcome: Passed.

- House Bill 192 (Darling) — \"Revised county clerk and recorder fee for recording documents.\" Vote: 87 ayes, 13 no. Outcome: Passed.

- House Bill 193 (Darling) — \"Require signature for voter registration cancellation.\" Vote: 100 ayes, 0 no. Outcome: Passed.

- House Bill 201 (Mitchell) — \"Require disclosure of paid signature gatherers for initiatives.\" Vote: 59 ayes, 41 no. Outcome: Passed.

- House Bill 226 (Springer) — \"Provide for illegal employment and government accountability law.\" Vote: 87 ayes, 13 no. Outcome: Passed.

- House Bill 246 (Buttry) — \"Provide for standardization of substantial equivalency determinations and professional licensing.\" Vote: 100 ayes, 0 no. Outcome: Passed.

- House Bill 276 (Greg) — \"Standardized service of process for professional licenses.\" Vote: 100 ayes, 0 no. Outcome: Passed.

Transcript recorded the title and vote tally for each bill as above. The transcript does not include further floor debate details for these measures beyond their titles and the recorded tallies during third-reading consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Floor Session 2025-02-04","oneSentenceSummary","The House passed a set of third-reading bills covering wolf hunting quotas, school levy restructuring, election and clerk/recorder rules, and initiative signature disclosure; vote tallies are listed for each bill recorded on the floor.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353969,"House adds broadband and wireless communications to critical infrastructure protections",243,3886000,4129000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c&start=3886&end=4129","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c/thumbnail_3886000.jpg","/articles/6353969/Montana/House-adds-broadband-and-wireless-communications-to-critical-infrastructure-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353969-684c8ad29a4d9563503c8ae6d7288d20/orig.mp4?Expires=1776053045&Signature=GEUfj0C5W~HVVx5aYW-R9G3aIgGpoalzIgfY5Sn3xwH7YjUBl20hOkKFpBnu~WuZqLKgyMiOXnAXse6S6p59oc7gDVVsOHhTGKX8oPBEnxc0n3Khqas0Osm-9RAwpEIOIRvsZw4LFkOc2UZu0QcmRUtMTkGiFhqNxscjfsenPSyY5oCVXtX1vMinHbjX2UifzI956Bz0zQoZ-wTsbF~Ft7jqFk-k6YX4BS1Wn~bpoPKdR1U8iAEeAMNBB8jDWiMm3oVKqI7t-J865aWPvE1yg2hGBjpRNB87lu24YyVYYtZTkY1zTB51qR8cqqyU90UIWBr1mFnJQ3u7PCc4Ay49Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 257, which expands Montana’s critical infrastructure protections to include broadband and wireless communications and closes a statutory loophole affecting linear facilities, passed second reading with a recorded vote of 89-11.

Representative Kametz, the bill sponsor, described the measure as a modernization of laws enacted in 2021 (House Bill 481) to deter willful damage to critical infrastructure. Kametz said the bill adds broadband and wireless communications infrastructure to the list of protected facilities and removes language that had left many large, linear facilities — such as transmission lines and railways — vulnerable because they could not be fully enclosed or marked.

The sponsor stressed the bill does not change \"call before you dig\" requirements or criminalize accidental strikes to facilities by landowners, contractors or farmers. \"What this bill does not do... it does not talk about 8 1 1 or call before you dig,\" Kametz said, noting the measure targets wilful damage.

Kametz cited a November 2024 report, noting an estimate of 44 daily instances nationwide of wilful damage and destruction to communications and related critical infrastructure; the bill would align Montana’s statute with similar protections enacted in other states.

The House recorded a 89-11 vote to pass the bill on second reading. The bill directs criminal penalties and protections already framed by the 2021 law to explicitly cover broadband and wired communications as critical infrastructure.","House Bill 257 passed second reading to expand Montana’s critical-infrastructure vandalism protections to include broadband and wireless communications infrastructure and to close a loophole affecting linear facilities such as transmission lines and railways.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353974,"House rejects homeowners association bill after extended debate on reserves, voting and government intrusion",1158,2520000,3678000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c&start=2520&end=3678","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","/articles/6353974/Montana/House-rejects-homeowners-association-bill-after-extended-debate-on-reserves-voting-and-government-intrusion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353974-abd1fe52a80a17fcabc696012ee45128/orig.mp4?Expires=1776053045&Signature=HYNFnfdKWNXhuXyTz62W0tL71uDNkhEFudR0l6voQa3py2Le6r9Mb25wa1WYuwy7INCzI~rl06gFe9Fui-Np0GW9CTdC9CRw7dBCccrGGmZoegPFb~DYGHyWMtK7ttiDegg4nmtmh-Ng0Nqi1jhziUQWDv2o6JhmX9~xNlHXGSHZZmrMHhTVcSS-Rd1Nl233ZXbPRnHJ0D240D~DNLgTbsn6ha9nThRtuFtznXrrG8xdx-XxrM382FzXIu7AZxAzkxxzDwM-kBYDzcZJ4n2kSeCPS3B4saLaCTvYGMYj0XF781ycklkxFASKgWcwPU0w-Q93TW~ZeLqdxsADkIrc2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 232, a measure to require transparency from homeowners associations and limit certain fee increases, failed second reading in the Montana House after an extended and often technical debate that split lawmakers 30-70.

Representative Falk, the bill sponsor, said the measure aims to protect homeowners from sudden fee increases and to require annual budgets and financial reports for covered associations. \"I think this is a good bill for a prevention, and a homeownership affordability concern,\" Falk said on the floor.

Opponents, including Representative Griffith — who said he has practiced HOA law for more than 20 years — criticized provisions that they said would interfere with established reserve accounting, limit associations’ ability to levy assessments for major repairs and impose impractical voting and administrative requirements. Griffith warned the bill’s one-assessment-per-year rule would conflict with common accounting and lending practices that separate operating assessments and reserve assessments.

Supporters emphasized transparency and consumer protection. Representative Jay Hinkle described a Belgrade case where a homeowner disputed fines and the HOA threatened liens; he said requiring financial reports would help homeowners obtain information about spending decisions.

Key elements of HB232 discussed on the floor included:
- A requirement for homeowners associations above a minimum size to produce annual budgets and financial reports.
- A cap on fee increases of 15% (or $100, whichever is greater) absent approval by three-fifths of unit owners.
- An exemption for associations with 10 or fewer parcels.
- New requirements for written ballots and identification of property owners when ballots are mailed.

Critics argued the bill would intrude on private contracts, create accounting problems for condominium reserve funds and lacked carve-outs for health, safety and emergency spending. Supporters said the bill is narrow, targeted and intended to prevent sudden large increases in HOA charges.

House vote on the measure resulted in 30 ayes and 70 no, failing to advance the bill on second reading. The transcript records detailed back-and-forth about mortgage-company reserve requirements, condo assessments for limited common elements, and how ballot rules interact with existing nonprofit corporation law.","House Bill 232, which would have required certain homeowners associations to provide annual budgets and limit fee increases, failed second reading after prolonged floor debate over reserve funding, voting thresholds and whether the legislature should regulate private contracts.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353978,"House advances bill clarifying third-party reimbursements for lawfully harvested wolves after amendment fails",717,1786000,2503000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c&start=1786&end=2503","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c/thumbnail_1786000.jpg","/articles/6353978/Montana/House-advances-bill-clarifying-third-party-reimbursements-for-lawfully-harvested-wolves-after-amendment-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353978-4cecedadfba2d43ef423457e49c9cb24/orig.mp4?Expires=1776053045&Signature=bfgHVUJuwpGRArQJ1Ko3O9N5Eddnv0EMC-cHJsuE3FgedfexFRrq3P5DcqUSgTZYUbg4zxxQh2QdkSe0iUCqxTLP2XGZRCzTChgjn-iymt7PXlIwVNqfg6a2g1XI4cWgX~RNJdRgWZX~-Ii3l4fxLmsHJfpCNObjWzsxiqH2bbMQoHfjND2kUyhYJuWgxWJJZVkxy4MtJaGe3R0SWaf63vgQj6XVSTL83uu3v2RD5qwlhl7Wop37wMozysLjj~-FukUYS6jQZci4lU~RjimsGQFHisbFINxVaahIwMkqRk~drWLlrUtDjeD0~9s6ERMSxF7aRoSMOphmNb2-Rikmew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 219, a bill clarifying that all lawfully harvested wolves are eligible for reimbursement from third-party organizations, passed second reading in the Montana House after members rejected an amendment that would have required reporting to Fish, Wildlife & Parks about reimbursements.

Representative Schubert, the bill sponsor, described HB219 as a technical \"cleanup\" of 2021 legislation (Senate Bill 267) to ensure people who lawfully harvest wolves — including ranchers protecting livestock — may be reimbursed by third-party organizations that fund such payments. \"This bill really is a cleanup bill,\" Schubert said, emphasizing that reimbursements would still come from nonprofit or third-party groups rather than the government.

Representative Konar offered an amendment to require reporting to the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) on third-party reimbursements and to keep individual names and contact information confidential while allowing aggregate reporting by hunting district. Konar said the change would let the legislature monitor how reimbursement funds are used without public disclosure of personal data. \"This would give us the ability as a legislature to know what groups are actually reimbursing, who is getting the reimbursement…so that we as a legislature have the information to know whether or not things are going the way that we... want them to go,\" Konar said.

Opponents, including Representative Schubert and Representative Jay Hinkle, argued the amendment was an unfriendly expansion that could expose hunters to harassment and that the reporting requirements warranted a separate bill and committee review. Schubert called the amendment \"absolutely an unfriendly amendment\" and warned it would change the bill’s intent by requiring personal information to be reported.

The House rejected the amendment by roll call, 46 ayes to 54 no. Later, HB219 passed second reading on a recorded vote of 57 ayes to 43 no.

Actions recorded in the transcript include: the adoption vote on the amendment (failed, 46-54) and the bill’s passage on second reading (passed, 57-43). The transcript shows substantial floor debate about privacy, the information FWP currently receives, and whether legislative oversight requires the proposed reporting.

The amendment text would have designated reimbursement recipient and distributor names and contact information as nonpublic to FWP while allowing aggregated district-level reporting; opponents raised concerns about whether social security numbers and addresses would be collected and stored. The floor debate did not produce a change in the bill text beyond the failed amendment, so the bill advances without a reporting requirement to Fish, Wildlife & Parks as described in the amendment.","House Bill 219, which clarifies eligibility for third-party reimbursements tied to lawfully harvested wolves, passed second reading after lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have required Fish, Wildlife & Parks reporting while protecting individual identities.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353983,"House advances bill giving Montana DOT authority to regulate truck platooning after safety amendment",517,845000,1362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c&start=845&end=1362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220778-61a46724cc362dee909b975b7684210c/thumbnail_845000.jpg","/articles/6353983/Montana/House-advances-bill-giving-Montana-DOT-authority-to-regulate-truck-platooning-after-safety-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353983-0d74ff116571b77ca0a6f7051e438c53/orig.mp4?Expires=1776053045&Signature=IzmA8jsh8NRlxUWHYF~H69ovh8qAZqgNG3wNd9wKpXW24b2MfQRUrO3HXajUl9LaxKU-EgLYazqNU~IIohbtLFtRZMbKqOY9HdUezUcs7OO~XHS1kMDUJ0w~0dUj6iOIUHMjfxMggbjYsya79K5Fvk8ggRor8sGWw3ZO6clCeTYhxPigVj~PfphuknTFrMuP6Zu4nSnl9CtAWFbn7vgkQ3vH5F7tOct-uAc3my4f86w8z-PDwF6vKrZiR02Do92ErVr4ZiHM5GJLHL3RPL97o1R5TbYIa76XBNoBdcoBPiCRwKPq-wCZOTBhJojFGSOnbpBCZmwK1scSNOwOKHLv-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 97, a measure to allow and regulate the platooning of trucks, cleared second reading in the Montana House after lawmakers adopted an amendment requiring study and stakeholder engagement before permitting begins.

The amendment, offered by Representative Baum and approved 84-16, requires the Montana Department of Transportation to conduct a safety study and engage law enforcement, the trucking industry, platooning technology developers and the Transportation Interim Committee in developing rules and standards before issuing permits. The full bill, as amended, was recommended to pass on second reading by voice and later recorded votes (95-5) in committee.

Representative Worth, the bill sponsor, described platooning as a practice in which a lead truck controls one or more following vehicles and said the bill’s core purpose is to give the department authority to write rules and issue permits. \"What this bill primarily does is it gives to the highway department the ability to write rules, issue permits,\" Worth said during floor remarks.

Representative Baum, sponsor of the floor amendment, said the change \"brings everybody to the table\" and ties permitting to results of the department's study and a robust rulemaking process so that safety concerns are addressed before companies operate platoons in Montana.

Representative Durham, who identified herself as chair of the Transportation Committee during debate, said technology is arriving whether the legislature acts or not and argued the amendment provides necessary \"sideboards\" so platooning does not begin without standards in place.

Key provisions discussed on the House floor and in committee include:
- Definitions for \"platooning\" and levels of automation; lead/conductor of platoons must hold a commercial driver's license.
- Rulemaking authority for the Montana Department of Transportation to permit platooning and to set safety rules and route restrictions.
- A requirement that the department engage stakeholders and complete a safety study before issuing permits (per the adopted amendment).

Actions and votes recorded in the transcript show the amendment passed by roll call (84 ayes to 16 no) and the bill was recommended to pass on second reading with a separate vote count recorded at 95 ayes to 5 no.

The bill text also includes delayed effective-date language and provisions authorizing special permits and related rulemaking. The department's specific rule timetable, the content of the study and the routes that would be permitted were not specified on the floor and remain subject to rulemaking and future administrative action.","The Montana House moved House Bill 97 forward after adopting an amendment that requires stakeholder engagement and a safety study before platooning permits are issued; the bill gives the Department of Transportation rulemaking authority for platooning and sets CDL requirements for drivers of lead vehicles.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Third-reading bills passed by the Montana House

House adds broadband and wireless communications to critical infrastructure protections

House rejects homeowners association bill after extended debate on reserves, voting and government intrusion

House advances bill clarifying third-party reimbursements for lawfully harvested wolves after amendment fails

House advances bill giving Montana DOT authority to regulate truck platooning after safety amendment