[{"_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",6353507,"mediaKeyId","2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa","parentId",2221242,"title","Senate Judiciary executive actions: committee advances multiple bills, records several roll‑call outcomes","audioSeconds",2885,"startMs",7692000,"endMs",10577000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa&start=7692&end=10577","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa/thumbnail_7692000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353507/Montana/Senate-Judiciary-executive-actions-committee-advances-multiple-bills-records-several-rollcall-outcomes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353507-bc51fae0588fb919963b5e5fcbd5d3a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614515&Signature=LGbOh4Zgq8xOs9OfSkj41h8oZv~ZrMzbXdUung9Fq-a50fDsR0nVEnUbFi9-~HYDjB6ndmnatFuTnLiHuKoryTuQGNoq9WTjfGarRzcI-atBx4LBAprXjTk54Zyx27fcw28RP38dLVhJRjP3iUHwRWQa0gRWbQvknBBdE4R-4GoPUdLpd5BNv-AKFADlfA154SIEPC71bckXt-MkhEJGuKVx1mvzPFhNMmLXpT2~XCmXv3yu3Uqo0S-A5VxSa9yeRzorrKrZEwEp0rLwZtSBKqifT46p-6ynCWYgX69oSRDhIEtDYJ7uYDl14xP0zM0-2HzrlkNlsRJtqt8Tut47lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Judiciary Committee moved a set of bills through executive action following hearings. Outcomes recorded in the committee transcript include roll‑call tallies for some measures and voice‑vote or committee‑record passage for others.

Votes at a glance (committee action recorded in transcript):

- SB 14 (audit of ODC): Do pass. Roll call: 6 yes, 3 no (Vice Chair Ricky: yes; Vice Chair Olsen: no by proxy; Sen. Emmerich: yes; Sen. Lammers: yes; Sen. Mansella: yes; Sen. Newman: no; Sen. Smith: no by proxy; Sen. Vinton: yes; Chair Usher: yes). Motion passed.

- SB 42 (judicial elections / partisan disclosure): After an amendment failed, the committee approved the bill in executive action. Roll call recorded: 6 yes, 3 no.

- SB 45 (judicial performance disclosures and voter information): Committee adopted multiple amendments and passed the bill as amended. Final committee vote recorded: 6 yes, 3 no.

- SB 84 (pre‑sentence investigations): Committee advanced the bill; committee record reports unanimous passage out of committee (committee reported unanimous approval during executive action).

- SB 132 (minor in possession; separate alcohol and marijuana coding): Committee advanced the bill; transcript records committee passage (voice/committee record), roll‑call not specified.

- SB 136 (assisted‑suicide related revisions): The committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill; recorded vote on an amendment and final passage were reported in the transcript (amendment recorded as 9 yes; final passage recorded as 7 yes, 2 no in roll call entries).

- SB 137 (jurors over age 75): Passed by voice vote in committee (recorded as passed in committee).

- SB 156 (evidentiary burdens in child welfare proceedings): Committee passed the bill by roll call: 7 yes, 2 no.

- SB 162 (Criminal Justice Oversight Council membership language): Committee advanced the bill (voice vote; proxies recorded in committee record).

Several bills had amendments considered; the transcript records amendment votes and whether amendments passed or failed. For some bills the committee used proxy votes and voice votes; the transcript lists recorded proxy votes in some roll calls.

Where the committee recorded roll‑call tallies, the tallies above are drawn from the committee record printed in the hearing transcript. For bills recorded as advanced by voice vote, the transcript does not always list individual member votes; the committee record shows the bills passed out of committee in those cases.

A number of bills remain pending across later floor stages or revision; committee staff or sponsors may file additional amendments before further floor action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Judiciary 2025-02-03","oneSentenceSummary","At the close of hearings, the Senate Judiciary Committee took executive action on a slate of bills. Several passed out of committee; some amendments failed earlier in the session. Where roll‑call tallies were recorded, they are noted; where the hearing recorded only voice votes, tallies are not specified in the transcript.","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},6353511,"Bail agents urge repeal of 2023 bail bond insurance rules; insurance office urges oversight",945,4693000,5638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa&start=4693&end=5638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa/thumbnail_4693000.jpg","/articles/6353511/Montana/Bail-agents-urge-repeal-of-2023-bail-bond-insurance-rules-insurance-office-urges-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353511-5b3c1d09007491b5029d053c6d5f4fd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614515&Signature=FPdmCO3kv~IKMBqWJzhBSO-EHrHUY1utQzwXJNPzb-F8B4jn6Rq8p7aDLKgBouIXWxDz6njnICGLW2qfFjW4Uy4IbRXmLci9tqWPuCECSJRM4wKWlx8jKgk5fDcmY2OvfhuXYPqoQ65ZSHXkprXclMP4mxxTcU6jXFYM3cBIkuFg4LxbpUUC5iSpbQ9XRm77vwILvw7xe8QX2V4VyiCe1qg9PVe3w6Rnmx18xG-k0pf90Xi7DPAXcrCPLQrAdnUs2sU7FHtLCFB4UiyYXcrDXK6kExTgpVFDeOlPWaBpUZUBLLaYVTTWETyVwtilUsog9ixbgWiHLYtS2yGqTQGXFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Trebis told the committee Senate Bill 197 would repeal provisions enacted in 2023 that placed some bail bond producer licensing and reporting under the state insurance commissioner. The sponsor said the earlier law disrupted Montana's licensing process and argued for restoring the prior regulatory structure.

John Looney, president of the Montana Bail Agents Association, said HB 62 (the 2023 law) had sharply reduced the number of local licensed bail agents willing to write bonds and allowed out‑of‑state firms to enter Montana markets. Looney told the committee that community‑based agents foster accountability and that the current law created gaps that let unlicensed fugitive recovery agents operate without oversight.

Other proponents included representatives of Bail Montana and Montana Pretrial Services who said the changes imposed by the 2023 law harmed local agents and complicated the industry.

Frank Cote, deputy insurance commissioner, opposed the repeal. Cote recounted incidents the department reviewed — including a recovery agent shooting a person with less‑than‑lethal rounds in Great Falls, a tasing in Livingston and other violent episodes — and said the department requested sideboards because the industry lacked consistent standards and reporting. He urged the committee to oppose repeal and said the office stands ready to work with stakeholders on fixes.

The sponsor closed the hearing saying the 2023 changes should be undone and that accountability for bad actors should proceed under existing criminal law. The committee did not record executive action on SB 197 during this session; the sponsor later asked to have the bill pulled from an executive agenda.","Sen. Trebis introduced SB 197 to repeal last session's bail bond insurance provisions; Montana bail agents said the 2023 law disrupted the industry and opened the door to out‑of‑state firms, while the deputy insurance commissioner cited violent incidents and urged continued oversight.",{"_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},6353517,"Controversial bill would narrow \"actual physical control\" for DUI; law enforcement warns of safety risks",2118,2380000,4498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa&start=2380&end=4498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa/thumbnail_2380000.jpg","/articles/6353517/Montana/Controversial-bill-would-narrow-actual-physical-control-for-DUI-law-enforcement-warns-of-safety-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353517-3e218b58ab7266f149c3e50cb2a88aa7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614515&Signature=m77hkx~O4kCJyiML9xOBbl2UnAJFiJmPg3QYnhhr0tn-yCh4dGHi5iG0cU8ORyO~xQuCkzlIrx45Ww3lpDL2y93L6gArcUXo5ss5VjNUUsZzwmUIBXaJUYZOlBOtIFedNLogvX1xT0oPlDvZkjE38-X~bo93g9sQxbtqvATdThSZVf1BQ0zRIR0NO8Z4xBkW2LuPkrioxEqO7mWZNtn2YSsoNAFD5H8DDDzGAlN-scGRkhkq-iCmAQMmMg7Ij9esAC8FwqDg3~h8aF3O4c-Z1Q9pZy8rsM2zAFCLjUxS8934k79FnUjRnl-3uAuPkj~VuoUmux98JUu2Z1LvgiiHmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Trebis introduced Senate Bill 196 to redefine \"actual physical control\" in Montana's DUI statute. The draft language initially said the term applies only when a person is operating or driving a motor vehicle \"on the public roads and highways of the state\" and excluded situations when a person is seated in any seat except the driver's seat. The sponsor told the committee he would offer an amendment to restore the current phrase \"a way of the state open to the public\" and to add exceptions — for example, when a person is asleep in a lawfully parked vehicle — and to require that facts show the person did not drive the vehicle to the location while under the influence.

Proponents said the bill would incentivize safer behavior (\"sleep it off\" in the vehicle rather than driving home) and reduce harm. Don Cape, of the Coalition for Safety and Justice, said allowing an intermediate choice to remain in a parked vehicle could make roads safer.

Opposition testimony came from multiple law enforcement and prosecutors' groups, who said the proposal would hamper investigations and prosecution and likely increase impaired driving crashes. Doug Samuelson, captain with the Montana Highway Patrol, warned that alcohol's physiological effects can sedate people without producing restorative sleep and that a person who \"sleeps it off\" for a short time can still be highly impaired hours later. Mary Barry, representing the Montana County Attorneys Association, said the bill as drafted would effectively eliminate the legal doctrine of actual physical control and produce enforcement gaps that repeat felony DUI offenders could exploit.

Other opponents included the Montana Police Protective Association, the Association of Montana Troopers, the Montana Association of Chiefs of Police, local sheriffs and the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. Witnesses recounted cases in which officers arrested impaired drivers who were asleep or seated outside the driver's seat after driving; law enforcement argued the change would reduce officers' ability to remove dangerous drivers from the road, increase legal uncertainty and shift risk onto the public.

Sponsor supporters and the sponsor said an amendment was being prepared that would narrow the change and restore some current language; the hearing record shows the sponsor asked the committee to consider the amended language when it becomes available. The committee closed the hearing; no committee vote was recorded at the hearing.","Sponsor proposed changing the definition of \"actual physical control\" so a person asleep or seated outside the driver's seat could not be charged with DUI in some circumstances; law enforcement groups urged opposition, saying the change would weaken enforcement and increase fatalities.",{"_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},6353523,"Committee advances bill to separate alcohol and marijuana in minors‑in‑possession data",1039,1322000,2361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa&start=1322&end=2361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa/thumbnail_1322000.jpg","/articles/6353523/Montana/Committee-advances-bill-to-separate-alcohol-and-marijuana-in-minorsinpossession-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353523-6ef2cd1943fcea67a1a5a6324f58e504/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614515&Signature=k2AS5EcRnRwTkwpYYW07RGiiDJ383S62AwqqDmGXC2Ga7SzdMcRC1svqv0usD4DDMIHWYV1d~cEt7-Sr7ka~FOb1LXAqgDhu4A3~tpRaxWiLJeceeiOrE0SIwV~IfTv2TgjXBSuXdeCMN4qaF2Gq41ZMKzND4159udcIADdXbM-axXOTcSJEgdNYjXSORYDSsJjT0yvAE9C5FbKOvmLiMUEAqbYjyymTo~EORngu-6iJhZzKnIdKFacLlLBFgl5~ZDZkvdduHD~wBWrLOwQ9-Q8V8-JrrZH3UkY3-RJrfGGB0m84iyQiQVYyQfrFb-8r8dszWE-2NXD13t-ycvCCPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Tom McIlvrey introduced Senate Bill 132 to separate the statutory coding used when a minor is cited for possession so authorities can distinguish alcohol from marijuana possession for reporting and trend analysis. The sponsor told the committee the bill creates separate sections that mirror an existing section but isolate alcohol and marijuana to make reporting reliable.

Tom Billetein, youth court services bureau chief in the Office of Court Administrator, said the bill would improve the court system's ability to track and report substance‑specific offenses because current offense coding lumps all intoxicating substances together under a single 45 code. \"When the offense comes in as a blanket code, it's not reliable for us to report out on the substance itself,\" Billetein said.

Supporters included local DUI task force leaders and residents who urged better tracking after marijuana legalization. John Marshall, chair of the Sanders County DUI Task Force, said the change would support education and prevention work by providing substance‑specific data.

Committee members asked whether medical exemptions for persons 21 or older exist; the sponsor said he was not aware of an exemption. Questions also covered how juvenile case management systems (JCATS) capture offense data and whether state agencies can use the information to monitor substance trends; Billetein and Department of Public Health and Human Services representatives said the data would be put into the youth court reports the agencies already produce.

The committee later advanced SB 132 in executive action.","SB 132 would split the existing minor‑in‑possession code so juvenile and justice agencies can track alcohol and marijuana separately; proponents from youth court services and local task forces said better data will improve prevention and reporting; sponsor emphasized need for accurate trend data after legalization.",{"_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},6353526,"Senate panel hears bill to require pre‑sentence investigations in felony cases",1181,127000,1308000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa&start=127&end=1308","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221242-89b909510853ec4eca5e2926c14950fa/thumbnail_127000.jpg","/articles/6353526/Montana/Senate-panel-hears-bill-to-require-presentence-investigations-in-felony-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353526-cc97a21b7123709fc99cf192a581ee13/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614515&Signature=XNYx~U4CtRvtxCZiYbgTR6dsb5JkfrICmZaybtrF32VfX--mmXvQheCcaXGWiV5IUSBoN6IHu-Lmno6-ufWXDrCnqPjxqLYRO2fm3l0zk9~M53YW91cxWD5THineqIM9wdAT5Xy0pQkUPkmSxPf~1iAyqKb9iCEv8Ct2cuahJlilr7-fZxrkiUaPRFhji2UWeUQb0O2yni~2OY2xCkyL0mOBMFoYjPInb2QyWFIacqxmJTlqrO5dJyd8MtoZwp4WQqduRRNXeMabvOUh9dUQrxMFg3OwXkKfhLhRlVk-2O4goraGf-teU1aegNC1cZXa-pu6bGtj7FW-eWU3-fiwGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Laura Smith, the sponsor, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Senate Bill 84 would require a pre‑sentence investigation (PSI) in felony cases unless the defendant had a PSI within the previous 18 months. The bill also allows a court to require that a PSI include a physical and mental examination, a substance use disorder assessment, or both.

The bill matters, supporters said, because PSIs supply judges and other justice‑system decision makers with background information used not only at sentencing but later by prisons, parole boards and supervising officers. \"We should not . . . allow the judiciary or defense counsel or prosecutors to waive this very important document,\" attorney Scott Twito said, noting he was appointed to the Criminal Justice Oversight Council (CJOC) by the attorney general and that the council vetted the proposal.

Victim‑advocacy groups and corrections practitioners told the committee they support the bill but asked the Legislature to fund the work PSIs require. Kelson Young of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said PSIs capture victim concerns and patterns of offending important to public safety. Jimmy Patelis, vice chair of CJOC, and Caitlin Flood of the nonpartisan Crime and Justice Institute described PSIs as a national best practice: Flood said at least 30 states mandate PSIs for serious offenses and that PSI content varies by jurisdiction.

Brian Goodkin, director of the Department of Corrections, told the committee the agency currently employs 14 full‑time staff who write PSIs and estimated the bill would raise PSI production roughly 15 percent — an \"additional 571\" reports statewide, according to his testimony. Goodkin said probation officers wrote 4,848 PSIs in the 2023–24 reporting year and that the change would increase workload for probation staff.

No opponents testified in the hearing. Several informational witnesses from state agencies — including the Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Department of Corrections — said they were available to answer implementation questions.

The committee later voted in executive action to pass SB 84 out of committee.

Supporters said the bill promotes individualized, informed sentencing and more consistent records for later parole and classification decisions; corrections officials and advocates said the state must resource the additional investigative work if the policy is adopted.

The hearing record shows sponsors and proponents emphasizing PSIs' downstream uses for parole and programming, while agency witnesses flagged workload and staffing implications.","Sen. Laura Smith introduced SB 84 to require pre‑sentence investigation reports for felony cases unless a recent PSI exists; supporters say PSIs inform sentencing, parole and prison classification while state corrections officials warn the change would increase staff workload.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate Judiciary executive actions: committee advances multiple bills, records several roll‑call outcomes

Bail agents urge repeal of 2023 bail bond insurance rules; insurance office urges oversight

Controversial bill would narrow "actual physical control" for DUI; law enforcement warns of safety risks

Committee advances bill to separate alcohol and marijuana in minors‑in‑possession data

Senate panel hears bill to require pre‑sentence investigations in felony cases