[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6620861,"mediaKeyId","2803178-4d9770dc9112a0e043bf3c35167e4b22","parentId",2803178,"title","Committee agrees to request study of primary date, election timelines and clerks' workload","audioSeconds",270,"startMs",2701000,"endMs",2971000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2803178-4d9770dc9112a0e043bf3c35167e4b22&start=2701&end=2971","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2803178-4d9770dc9112a0e043bf3c35167e4b22/thumbnail_2701000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6620861/Montana/Committee-agrees-to-request-study-of-primary-date-election-timelines-and-clerks-workload","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620861-f754d859ae5edea7b642fa8d01f59b6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773587847&Signature=BdkKL6ZK~4Gzy83sFFMKf0SNoH54O0D1RMfqMaNNolOmA-p86QXyAq8UpI-1ys7~Hk~ChERWioriY4zvRMcktysJZ8JYpkaj8QTTBt58x0QHzszrTZ2mUxZC6noFowiNyrT2GEYdwyyxmBbruqOwevWIKULzXs1wUx8SJn94~pZ27ViE95nE8RJRKUXP-udH4Yk9Grd31qMOlDoP6m-u7qdbLFWbGzo1P~n2NoPmsLyKj03cBOTwZvKTIZu13P7xcIPN0CHVgSDKZD4aYMqBG1uKTG0xNiyDZtFd8~L6B4XGmIYtJB1nw-o9kIVrBICRkjGRNAwuLFNYXRrhnCj27Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","During executive session, members discussed launching an interim study on the state primary date and related election-administration timelines and voted to request that study.

Representative Perry moved that the committee request a study resolution to examine the primary date and the downstream effects of any change. Vice chair Quorden (role referenced in discussion) and other members supported the idea, saying moving a primary date creates a ‘‘snowball effect’’ across election deadlines and requires a comprehensive flowchart to understand dependencies. Committee staff, Miss Power, told members the deadline to request a study resolution is Friday and that either the committee or an individual legislator may request the study.

Members listed topics the interim study should consider, including automatic voter registration, online voter registration, revisiting continuous count procedures, expanding the pool of election judges (by changing age range or eligibility), and other steps to reduce workload for clerks and recorders. Several members stressed the goal of keeping Montana’s elections \"honest, fair, and secure\" while making timelines manageable for local election offices.

The committee agreed to pursue the study request so staff can draft the resolution before the Friday deadline and to revisit scope and agency participation in the coming days. No formal report or bill language was adopted at this meeting; the action was a committee direction to request the interim study.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House State Administration - Mar 27, 2025 10:00 - 13:00","oneSentenceSummary","Members asked the committee to request an interim study on moving the primary date and other election administration issues to produce a master timeline and help clerks and recorders plan; staff said the deadline to request a study resolution is Friday and either the committee or an individual legislator can request it.","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},6620867,"House State Administration advances multiple bills; one lobbying ban bill tabled",624,959000,1583000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2803178-4d9770dc9112a0e043bf3c35167e4b22&start=959&end=1583","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2803178-4d9770dc9112a0e043bf3c35167e4b22/thumbnail_959000.jpg","/articles/6620867/Montana/House-State-Administration-advances-multiple-bills-one-lobbying-ban-bill-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620867-132ff8035425503f163543220494e5e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773587847&Signature=JuRXX18ccfmYNe1cUkYJ6oCZ2NiVLXAAEiX~qcGQ5yVdkZtrkCjI4~XGx8Wt32P4YVixMxIuHPlpRRsYHTMNU1PhjhhcJuRoH-d8b1In5tv4keIbaLMJgaUAzuJ59OynjPwBJrB4f6VwzWlXyzVa7pf29stQViZR-rnxn9lIyvvR8RwFOHum7X5KHzhno5G8eVKbSmMi4PUAxwSFQcbu0euwSm~ZCiVh0Ywry8saqkrxImK047A7KU69TyOHbqI8TWyYXEXO70~~oUSkJzq4aBy6KOFrl15pv-Rwdji6qHumPGoeQEFREJlaWims5hJTYngjERuP6p7ChDfYkAsFDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a House State Administration committee meeting, members considered and took executive action on multiple bills spanning election law, procurement, retirement contributions and administrative board transfers.

Key outcomes at the session included the committee voting to pass or concur in several bills (House Bill 821; House Bill 822; Senate Bill 12; Senate Bill 56; Senate Bill 105 as amended; Senate Bill 116; Senate Bill 242; Senate Bill 246 as amended; Senate Bill 316; Senate Bill 366) and tabling one measure (Senate Bill 222). Several votes were roll calls and several were voice votes; where recorded, tallies are listed below.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 821 (revised vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative): Passed in executive action; roll call reported 11 ayes, 8 noes.
- House Bill 822 (revised vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by legislative referendum): Passed in executive action; committee announced the bill \"passes\" (tally not specified in transcript).
- Senate Bill 222 (revised laws related to lobbying prohibitions for public employees): Motion to table adopted; committee chair announced SB 222 was tabled without objection.
- Senate Bill 12 (eliminate Board of County Printing; transfer duties to Department of Administration): Concurred in; roll call reported 17 ayes, 2 noes.
- Senate Bill 56 (supplemental employer contribution for PERS and related systems): Passed by voice vote; tally not specified in transcript. Committee staff noted a coordination/conflict with another PERS bill (SB 287) and that coordination instructions could resolve it.
- Senate Bill 105 (revisions related to electioneering at polling locations): Passed as amended (amendment s b 0105.001.003 adopted); voice vote, tally not specified in transcript.
- Senate Bill 116 (changes to Montana Heritage Preservation and Development Commission membership): Concurred in as originally proposed; roll call reported 18 ayes, 1 no.
- Senate Bill 242 (ballot form and uniformity revisions): Passed in executive action by voice vote; two members recorded as voting no but an overall tally was not specified.
- Senate Bill 246 (Montana-first procurement law and reporting requirements): Passed as amended; roll call reported 14 ayes, 5 noes.
- Senate Bill 316 (revising disability retirement provisions for municipal officers and firefighters; includes retroactive applicability amendment): Passed as amended by voice vote; tally not specified in transcript.
- Senate Bill 366 (related housekeeping changes; carried to concurrence): Passed by voice vote; tally not specified in transcript.

Several motions were made by committee members and committee staff summarized bill purposes prior to votes. Where conflicts with other bills were raised, committee staff indicated coordination instructions or intercommittee coordination would be used to reconcile overlapping provisions.

The committee closed executive action on the listed measures and confirmed carriers for several bills to take to the floor.","The committee took executive action on a series of bills affecting elections, procurement, retirement contributions and administrative boards. Most measures were concurred in or passed out of committee; Senate Bill 222, a lobbying restriction change, was tabled without objection.",{"_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},6620871,"Committee hears bill to narrow candidate D-1 disclosure, set ownership thresholds",525,361000,886000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2803178-4d9770dc9112a0e043bf3c35167e4b22&start=361&end=886","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2803178-4d9770dc9112a0e043bf3c35167e4b22/thumbnail_361000.jpg","/articles/6620871/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-narrow-candidate-D-1-disclosure-set-ownership-thresholds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620871-17ad71866f0498bd997d4613b46df09f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773587847&Signature=kaBK94vMd-dsnemNciMB3exmSBhpeq6HV037O7Nsnvsow1bFuXkaBU09WvSLQE4P5k8AXAHfdHW~U47QF0LnNtlbru~y5uX5s~9P-i4DSoDQr8vZGs03yac1ZE4-vB3CzG~KFxV8aYw9zqDjsGH1f9sojCEml9HCBtiqCRL29YzidHCwoCkvwlkS7ROPz0xUT3aXzFWbzYjGEQKd~GQeKN~UxBO8bwzP6y7Z8bpJa29l5kfdKOH7IhQAQVpBjIpz03l6MQhKkv5yaVqwoXm-ZkVMjgFpTBIKaWKRxkecb7fkWGOvHViCSTvids5uwfzN9k2mufDYu-cELaYR1S5FLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a House State Administration committee meeting, Senator Greg Hertz, sponsor of Senate Bill 492, opened discussion on proposed changes to the D‑1 candidate disclosure form used when candidates file with the Secretary of State.

Hertz said the bill keeps the D‑1 filing requirement but would narrow what candidates must list. \"Each business, firm, corporation, partnership, or other business or professional entity or trust in which the individual or candidate holds more than a 10% interest\" would be disclosed, Hertz said, and mutual funds would not be required to be reported. He also said the bill would require reporting of publicly traded holdings only above a 1% ownership threshold and that real property other than a personal residence would be reported only when the filer holds more than a 10% interest.

The change, Hertz said, is intended to reduce burdensome reporting and to focus the D‑1 on conflicts of interest the public would find material. \"Mutual funds are constantly changing,\" he said, and candidates have little control over fund composition, so the bill would exempt mutual funds from detailed reporting.

Kim Trujillo, compliance specialist supervisor for the Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP), appeared as an informational witness and answered committee questions about how property descriptions are currently handled and what \"general description\" of real property means in practice. Trujillo said general descriptions typically identify property by lot number or general vicinity rather than a full street address, and the COPP would ask for more specification if an entry were too vague.

Committee members asked procedural and drafting questions about filing windows and the interaction with Secretary of State filing rules; Hertz said he had proposed a change to the filing deadline language during drafting and noted he had an amendment. No formal action or vote on SB 492 occurred; the chair closed the hearing on the bill.

The hearing brought into focus three principal policy changes in the bill: a 10% ownership reporting threshold for business and property interests, a 1% threshold for reporting direct holdings in publicly traded companies, and an explicit exemption for mutual funds. Supporters framed the changes as reducing unnecessary reporting; COPP staff described how they would interpret general property descriptions during compliance checks. The committee did not take further action at that time and closed the hearing.

Committee staff did not provide a bill vote during the hearing; members indicated they will consider amendments and carriage in subsequent steps.","Sen. Greg Hertz told the House State Administration Committee that Senate Bill 492 would change what candidates must list on the D‑1 disclosure form, including raising threshold levels for business and property interests and excluding mutual funds; a COPP compliance supervisor answered questions and the hearing was closed without a vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee agrees to request study of primary date, election timelines and clerks' workload

House State Administration advances multiple bills; one lobbying ban bill tabled

Committee hears bill to narrow candidate D-1 disclosure, set ownership thresholds