[{"_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",6323366,"mediaKeyId","2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5","parentId",2342598,"title","Committee hears bill to bar counties from stripping election duties midterm","audioSeconds",988,"startMs",498000,"endMs",1486000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5&start=498&end=1486","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5/thumbnail_498000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6323366/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-bar-counties-from-stripping-election-duties-midterm","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323366-9c6089621fb5b1f4e79e3b7297e20cc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775414276&Signature=APWPwCEXO7ZhHgYVQGPWu1V--xxLSYv6ssSv~rsjDeREQMzFNbkPmP2rJYcztgMovnaUIWm0LwxTI6CEO~aXyAS2597Q-39sC0aM6N6rvSZsp97OVSH4zNpFos1CPEraAq1wnQkwWi3Y8Gl67o7Th83OX5CifRsY4p8T20N3bYGSpBwjhOfEGmIE5aOxS2P5QSAzgQ4bVHYT739qrO4M13Vn~Nfl9o3REOp4~xrrk~000n~ln2yU0nI2HiQMlbLv-7ccBGUBAhb4oFulEuOjKWHJepCARRSmP7LI9--67hXNsydkBznS1NTJuXGUxk6mf-VY9vsX~CJePJ3vfnaMeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Ryan Trevis, sponsor and Senator for Senate District 10, told the House State Administration Committee that Senate Bill 128 would prevent a county governing body from removing election-administration duties from a county clerk and recorder during that clerk’s current elected term.

“Senate bill 128 is a short bill, 1 page, and it's an act prohibiting county governing bodies for removing election administration duties from the county clerk and recorder during the county clerk and recorder's term in office,” Senator Trevis said.

The bill would leave two routes for changing who administers elections, Trevis said: the elected clerk and recorder may voluntarily relinquish those duties, or the duties may be changed between terms. Trevis described the measure as intended to protect what he called voter expectations when electing a clerk and recorder.

Committee members asked how the proposal would interact with existing oversight and remedies when elections are mismanaged. Trevis said voters face electoral consequences and pointed to existing legal tools (including recalls and court remedies) if an official’s conduct were “egregious,” and he emphasized the bill is not retroactive.

No proponents or opponents were present in the hearing room or online for SB 128, and no informational witnesses offered an analysis at the hearing. The committee did not take a recorded vote during the hearing; Trevis closed after questions and the committee moved on to its next item.

The transcript shows Trevis tied the bill to a local example in Cascade County where a newly elected clerk and recorder had election duties moved by a county commission within a year of taking office; Trevis said the change led to large public interest at a county hearing.

The bill text as described would preserve the clerk-and-recorder’s election-administration duties for the current term unless the officeholder voluntarily gives them up or the duties are changed between terms. The committee recorded no formal action on SB 128 at the conclusion of the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House State Administration Feb 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Ryan Trevis, sponsor and Senator for Senate District 10, told the House State Administration Committee that Senate Bill 128 would prevent a county governing body from removing election-administration duties from a county clerk and recorder during that clerk’s current elected term.","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},6323356,"Committee hears bill restoring 20-year retirement parity for Montana law enforcement",1817,3405000,5222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5&start=3405&end=5222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5/thumbnail_3405000.jpg","/articles/6323356/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-restoring-20-year-retirement-parity-for-Montana-law-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323356-ed34f971646ab670c217885b37ece2cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775414276&Signature=QYgF3sKTSGUYRjJiaYG32lCxXZHo7gP0mELa0xPOXwmsZJvbxko-cLGi5-GlG6ZkUaGmglJmsK8fCLGWwDyeI4qg~MxrG6qih~ULOx53fSIRZgL0jITc9mmGxv438e895E-1fJcGR4hNWhfdyZWMsPooxJFZWOIamIe5fgFlkXJDrkFqpxpTc2sfcCcApdpoOoDC9B-TGPqqx-jzbQSLth8g0KdTN0TgWcNrLS0rS8gTYZNyGAU2Ml7HBf9lRuw7bQUHiMCR5vhFKvthGnsMq4TpozeGr1uVN-8frZHqX8ztUSzEpvrktjq-XMaa0ZoRfdWBvfpkvb5Eh2p0IK4fIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Wendy McCamey, sponsor for Senate District 12, opened the hearing on Senate Bill 7 as a correction to a change from the 2023 legislative session. \"This bill is about law enforcement retirement, specifically the members of the sheriff's retirement system and the highway patrol officers retirement system,\" McCamey said, and she described SB 7 as restoring parity among three public-safety retirement systems.

Proponents representing state and local law enforcement, employee unions and associations emphasized recruitment, retention and the physical and mental toll of policing. Colonel Kurt Sager of the Montana Highway Patrol testified the 50-year age requirement for collecting retirement after 20 years of service has hampered recruitment and retention and that many officers cannot continue the stress of front-line duties past 20 years. \"Not being able to receive our retirement until age 50 forces many of our troopers to try to continue to work past 20 years,\" Sager said.

Sheriff Leo Dutton, patrol sergeant Joshua Jonas and representatives of trooper, sheriff and public-employee associations echoed those concerns, citing danger, mental-health stressors and shortened life expectancy among officers. Jonas referenced studies and agency experience showing elevated PTSD, suicide risk and shorter life expectancy for law enforcement; he described a string of difficult incidents and personal losses that underscore officers' risk and the argument for timely retirement options.

Jesse Luther of the Association of Montana Troopers reviewed the fiscal analysis and said the Highway Patrol system's amortization period would remain actuarially sound (24 years) and that the present-value increase to accrued liability was about $21,000 — an immaterial fraction of the overall system liability, in his description.

William Hollahan of the Montana Public Employees Retirement Administration appeared as an informational witness to answer fiscal and technical questions.

Supporters urged the committee to correct what proponents described as the unintended effect of 2023's HB 569, which they said altered parity between the systems. The hearing concluded with senator and committee discussion; no formal committee vote was recorded at the hearing.","Senator Wendy McCamey said Senate Bill 7 would restore 20-year retirement parity across Montana law enforcement retirement systems, changing provisions that currently impose an age 50 requirement for some officers to collect retirement benefits earned after 20 years of service.",{"_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},6323360,"Hearing on bill to allow voluntary party preference on Montana voter registrations draws mixed testimony",1173,1309000,2482000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5&start=1309&end=2482","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5/thumbnail_1309000.jpg","/articles/6323360/Montana/Hearing-on-bill-to-allow-voluntary-party-preference-on-Montana-voter-registrations-draws-mixed-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323360-2669d6a0f9e394632dd1f232488d3c11/orig.mp4?Expires=1775414276&Signature=AtIPnJXdF8cN1iqDemK0bj8DEbjDuiJ5xxdK8WJOYntzDFldzvdACmTYObCipm6GTorCQsuYbERb3YkOMCKg9lc7Niu9W0OWA0bSh08DrkC6Ppj3LIJji0YM8FXvdI8rkLEAOCH5px4XAZM9N8ebnGkjC5F6Iq58lDBYU-TFZrZvZSsvZxDvzglnY~tlgmU~2J1QqvZsBExNHg4TfJORd-HS3dhDQegDpLYObNibk0mnWd-uNkTGAhnGq7c2DOKM0YkvYH2oE95FSnmlCESrzRsOnYidR35vblt-2WrQQfu34EERiIYn-WS6sCnn3cElD806VNaoxXePz0FK9EDWPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Ryan Trevis, sponsor and Senator for Senate District 10, told the committee that Senate Bill 129 would allow an individual to add a political party preference to a voter-registration record and that the party list on forms would track Montana ballot-access rules.

“An individual may choose a political party affiliation when completing the standard application form,” Trevis said. He described the change as voluntary and said the bill’s effective date was set to Jan. 1, 2026 to allow transition time.

Opponents and public commenters raised concerns. Patrick Yawake, speaking for the Blackfeet Tribe, Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, said SB 129 would impose an added burden on voters and county election officials and risk imposing partisan labels where many Montanans prefer privacy. “Montana electors want simplicity with the process of voting,” Yawake said, urging the committee to table the bill.

Evan Barrett, a longtime party operative who testified as a private citizen, urged caution and argued voluntary party-registration would mainly help party organizations and could chill privacy-minded voters.

Austin James, appearing for Montana Secretary of State Christy Jacobson, offered practical context on implementation in the state voter-record database and cautioned the committee that “independent” is not a currently qualified political party under Montana ballot-access statutes, so the committee should be aware of how fields are defined in state systems.

Committee members asked how the bill would affect existing primary ballots and whether previously registered voters would need to re-register. Trevis said existing voters would not be required to re-register, and that adding party preference would be optional for new or current registrants. The sponsor also said the bill does not change how people would cast ballots and that primary ballot distribution would remain governed by existing ballot-access rules.

The hearing included no recorded committee vote. Senator Trevis closed the hearing and the committee moved on to other items.","Senate Bill 129 would let electors add a political-party preference to their voter registration. Sponsor Senator Trevis described it as voluntary freedom-of-association policy; tribal representatives and other witnesses warned it could burden election offices and compromise voter privacy.",{"_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},6323348,"Bill to lengthen public-notice timeframe for elections clears committee hearing",278,5799000,6077000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5&start=5799&end=6077","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5/thumbnail_5799000.jpg","/articles/6323348/Montana/Bill-to-lengthen-public-notice-timeframe-for-elections-clears-committee-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323348-6e33ebcc957718735c574baeaf01179b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775414276&Signature=Vr2KjxLvJ-0l4xXw3QzCAXbrHueJZCud9KG1Tudpq-iEpM40aEKdEqoGMABcuqGULILvTLXIZ9BRCk9AbC3wFWNAyiAr43JfnwOwWdeh60pvKwo8pmQ2RF50mHcH6ghnxBvquFIbGQ03zIif45MRZeU8yJJUBqushrLgpCg8yLgEatq55aoA9qxw9eZ1nL60H5bbMrPj2LrXqYxnlqTfxgvoggSysg3Jsl~CdzQaqUf0hQ3kH0omIQplsWTAhv7VEvGCDcsBPz9rmDGUPKC8QboFGrlg1DUXNVaWKGgzFvuLSR1nX3~pvD78C~QLlXuIQGWhS1OdtIqfFyaurytF8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Wendy McCamey explained that Senate Bill 115 would change the required publication timeframe for certain election-related public notices from 10 days to 12 days, a technical change aimed at aligning notice deadlines with weekly and biweekly local newspapers.

\"If we just moved it to 12 days, it would accommodate both end-of-week papers and beginning-of-week papers,\" McCamey said, explaining the statutory change would reduce the need for multiple publications and lower costs for counties and election officials.

Regina Plettenberg, representing the Montana Association of Clerks and Recorders, told the committee that several county clerks had requested the change and that the amendment would not prevent counties from publishing additional notices when they choose. \"A lot of our papers are going weekly or biweekly,\" Plettenberg said, and the 12-day window would give clerks more practical flexibility.

No opponents testified at the hearing and no informational witnesses were required. The sponsor closed the hearing and urged the committee to pass the bill.","Senate Bill 115 would change the required publication window for certain public notices from 10 days to 12 days to accommodate weekly newspapers and reduce duplicate ads; clerk-and-recorder association supported the change as a cost and timing improvement.",{"_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},6323352,"Committee considers bill letting remote state offices deposit small cash amounts every 14 days",766,5197000,5963000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5&start=5197&end=5963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342598-ca33f51898707a3e5a4799ad35c0cda5/thumbnail_5197000.jpg","/articles/6323352/Montana/Committee-considers-bill-letting-remote-state-offices-deposit-small-cash-amounts-every-14-days","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6323352-395dc9ac8dce6999e55f81927b05083e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775414276&Signature=e3NOWiYoyUIlDxms7K36uEBhiwUgcxNAOXN-Q6Xlb38MG8p7qL~O5Lvs3Q8chZVabeAaZUryaI4jhgZNrfBPbtASDvQnfDyB7MPmjhhpaWn6ijM39sEvaJK4wWFNorOfiosOs7x8RmsPfEI7qKNopgrkGGzuISf5WjLloAkUeHiHNL-qFAN-sp3XNs4AagS9XDdQUSeUn3yf67Y1qSbdTJdN5zn-vhqkxWD9e5Rt1qKG~dQFj~TJodCXrX5Hf1cMGNhMkO9QqS1sGrw5h5xQcB08GgJehnVluvdKud~CU9sj16dKQRsPt9v5ageqM2aYZ9nnsHldXsLo3e9uX8Y12Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Wendy McCamey introduced Senate Bill 9 as an efficiency measure requested by the Department of Administration to let remote state offices adjust deposit schedules for small cash collections.

\"This is an act allowing state agencies to deposit cash in excess that does not exceed $200 in total collections,\" McCamey said, framing the bill as a simple operational change to reduce trips to banks from remote offices.

Misty Ann Giles, director of the Department of Administration, said field offices often travel long distances to make weekly deposits and that extending the deposit interval to 14 days gives agencies a pragmatic option while retaining security protocols. \"They have to come in once a week for cash deposits up to $200 and a total of cash and check of $7.50,\" Giles explained, adding that some offices drive 30–50 miles or more to reach a bank branch.

Department witnesses, including the state accountant and finance officers from DNRC and Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said the change would save staff time, mileage and expense for locations where banking access is limited; FWP noted it collects fees at more than 100 sites and some Iron Ranger locations are remote.

A committee question asked why the bill uses 14 days rather than a longer interval such as a month; the state accountant said the shorter interval reduces the amount of cash on hand and that agencies can request modified schedules in special circumstances. The hearing concluded without a committee vote; the sponsor urged a due pass.","Senate Bill 9 would allow state agencies with remote offices to deposit small amounts of cash less frequently — every 14 days — to reduce travel and administrative burden; the Department of Administration and several agencies testified in support, citing remote locations and mileage savings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to bar counties from stripping election duties midterm

Committee hears bill restoring 20-year retirement parity for Montana law enforcement

Hearing on bill to allow voluntary party preference on Montana voter registrations draws mixed testimony

Bill to lengthen public-notice timeframe for elections clears committee hearing

Committee considers bill letting remote state offices deposit small cash amounts every 14 days