[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,76,87,99,111],{"_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",6619858,"mediaKeyId","2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f","parentId",2827200,"title","Bill would let local officials post mail‑ballot plans online instead of filing with Secretary of State","audioSeconds",772,"startMs",127000,"endMs",899000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f&start=127&end=899","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f/thumbnail_127000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6619858/Montana/Bill-would-let-local-officials-post-mailballot-plans-online-instead-of-filing-with-Secretary-of-State","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619858-b9237d3be36a64c1794947273d896b88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079694&Signature=J-5pnFqX7VuZY4UyVzw4g3FgLH3~Vn8kjchChFzQy-JtGcZluYwj2ZfxbVn~Uml4ySNf-OA7Wd6puQpMxXnFt1uf1ElfUxOYfyXwOK2dptPfGeIXHhpQRzMrE8K6N6-bSDPXKp51vSswEZJuPIJA9xdgaQk8V4NC2jm-hqy-kBFd4yUUOLlUL2dqNUTFpgCqrs0ZbfKHQeYCMpzlU5cVHiM51EYYNXuOhfVM6MfxznMx333INJb7w2JvNpZe3P3L1gyCmj8ItFsXhDLU2EpBOJZouUUUUBo1fp3r2HbFYg1kC~oWmAux9aOdJNJZXdlsMEtZzT7tBZGZQS9Xx9k4IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Lisa Teal, sponsor of House Bill 527, told the Senate State Administration Committee the bill would require local election administrators to post the written plan for any election conducted by mail on the administrator’s website — rather than filing that plan with the Secretary of State.

The bill, Teal said, was brought with support from the Secretary of State’s office and includes language allowing school districts without websites to post plans on social media or another public venue. \"Some years, the secretary receives around 500 plans and filing with the secretary is unnecessary,\" Teal said at the hearing.

Why it matters: Austin James, who testified for the Secretary of State, described the current workload at the SOS office as concentrated in a single staff position that reviews several hundred plans a year. \"Right now, what happens is we've got 1 FTE that gets somewhere around 700 mail ballot plans. And they look through the information. I said, well, how often are they wrong? They said, well, about 50% of the time,\" James said, explaining that the most common errors were incorrect dates — often last year’s dates — which the office then updates.

Supporters said the change is a cleanup of redundant process. James and other proponents said local officials already prepare the substantive plan and that posting locally would make the information more readily available to voters. The bill was amended in the House to allow school districts to post plans on the school website and to give districts without websites flexibility in how they make the plan public.

During questioning, Senator Vance asked what would happen if a mail‑ballot plan were not posted at least 60 days before an election. James replied that under the bill the plan would default to a polling‑place election, and he said the Secretary of State’s office plans to publish a template and an auto‑calculation tool to help local administrators publish the required information correctly.

Committee action: The committee heard proponents, informational witnesses and no opponents in the room. Representative Teal closed by asking the committee to \"do concur.\" The hearing was closed without a committee vote at that time.

The bill remains before the committee for further action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate State Administration - Mar 31, 2025 15:30 - 18:30","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Lisa Teal told the Senate State Administration Committee House Bill 527 would require local election administrators to post written mail‑ballot plans on their own websites rather than submitting them to the Secretary of State.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619838,"Senate State Administration committee advances several bills in executive action",0,4395000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f&start=4395&end=4395","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f/thumbnail_4395000.jpg","/articles/6619838/Montana/Senate-State-Administration-committee-advances-several-bills-in-executive-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619838-7012340be519a4986fb26d53f78c1f64/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079694&Signature=JhuOMunkykvu7poaiEvJ6Pc4PfwRx4Uddzh7FN0ZFbcwB-FRlIcHG49oqa7cxnvIBAh1NDwwei5j354Mi8IY95Osbtdjhs5ny-cow0dHA1thQxM37tBjILWEe~PkSC-PD9AKlhdP3xNjaKAG5Wvrk2weFz77lhCLKo5vk9aYNN5P7eq0ms~yx4nx4TG9I0MaZvG7PQwToA70BnvCzwyLntUmegVU2LA6-XFFFJHqFcOM5xRf2C9RxVvjF2gPBq3z1Hf1s4bjJwzBUzzcrKng6fM~qDtIDlce9mLKsuW-UcojfR7jiE9TPTfcQf85h4I3oZXwiywZXjSHEwEbqsFLeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate State Administration Committee completed executive action on a package of bills and moved several measures forward.

What passed: The committee recorded final action on multiple bills in a single executive session. Announced outcomes in the record include:
- House Bill 217: Amended and passed by the committee; the motion to move the bill was made by Vice Chair Hayman and the committee announced the bill \"be concurred in.\" The record notes unanimous support as announced in committee.
- House Bill 358: Passed by voice vote; committee announced unanimous passage and selected a carrier for the Senate.
- House Bill 359: Passed in committee with an announced tally recorded in the transcript as eight yeas and one nay (the transcript records Senator McCamey voting no by proxy). The bill would revise working‑retiree provisions for the teachers' retirement system to allow retired teachers to mentor new teachers.
- House Bill 538 (House Bill 5 38 in the transcript, the 9‑1‑1 modernization bill): Passed by voice vote; the committee named a carrier in the Senate and recorded proxy aye votes for absent senators.
- House Bill 423: Passed on a recorded roll call with five yeas and four nays.

Motions and process: Committee staff provided brief summaries of bills and prepared amendments where necessary; some amendments were adopted by voice vote and others were defeated on roll call. Committee staff clarified legal drafting concerns and effective dates where members requested detail. The committee used a mix of voice votes and roll call votes for amendments and final passage.

What this means: Passage through committee sends the measures to the next legislative step (the Senate floor calendar) but does not by itself enact law. Several bills adopted in executive action were described at committee hearings earlier in the transcript and proponents restated support during the executive session.

Committee credits: The committee record shows motions carried by the vice chair and recorded proxy votes for some members; staff attorneys and bill carriers assisted with amendments and drafting clarifications. The executive session concluded after the listed items were acted on.","The committee moved multiple bills out of committee during an executive session. Several passed by voice vote; two recorded votes were 8–1 and 5–4 as the committee completed executive action on items from its hearing list.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619843,"Bill would roll back last session's amortization change for three law‑enforcement pensions, backers say",1139,3239000,4378000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f&start=3239&end=4378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f/thumbnail_3239000.jpg","/articles/6619843/Montana/Bill-would-roll-back-last-sessions-amortization-change-for-three-lawenforcement-pensions-backers-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619843-8d5379bab869f4ffee2b0107235cfb7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079694&Signature=eLzf6Xt3BPIClmipu1L42dRr7XfSJglK3s7JqdOqYuU3dwnWvXM-PyT~yjoJa6-vggGe~Z7ELvBGFBG76bwjuqq6JoYl6Gb9VpWF1~pnOOXC-mX3kQX-aqqbbFqRGqmLnMUVGiO~c43RMkxNuSxcQp8zF8om-kwSnwx4DiaWbYAJuAcyOWfBPLKOCag-KYwcMLM7UhBdLRmMOeK4ANsfzaGoMUOFGuhzTDqhFLKva4JhFkgDRytQ-SlOad0YAEvRl~0GbSAScgf5RJmX9haIByIX7GQkA2MY0gQqNdARmFSCy2Sb12XN0-MI94YtMuFygiWXCMuYTJmG8vSU2w8u5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Marta Bertoglio told the committee House Bill 85 would repeal the modified layered amortization (the \"ADEC\" change) enacted last session and restore employer contribution rates for the Highway Patrol, Sheriffs, and Game Warden and Peace Officers retirement systems. The bill also reinstates a roughly $4 million biennial statutory appropriation to the Department of Justice to fund highway patrol employer contributions.

William Hollahan, executive director of the Montana Public Employee Retirement Administration, said the problem stems from last session's changes: a one‑time infusion of roughly $94 million and a new layered amortization policy that places a 0.5 percent cap on annual increases to employer contribution rates but no floor on decreases. Hollahan said the combination can produce multi‑year shortfalls that increase unfunded liabilities. He presented a table (handout) showing a projected $763,000 actuarial increase in unfunded liabilities for the highway patrol system under current law.

Dan Villa of the Board of Investments said the $94 million infusion earlier in the session lost much of its value as a result of the rate changes. Kurt Sager, colonel of the Montana Highway Patrol, said the funding shortfall harms recruitment and retention, training and equipment purchasing, and noted the patrol had \"the largest vacancy rate\" in recent memory with 53 fewer troopers.

Will Self, chief of staff to the attorney general, and law‑enforcement associations — including the Association of Montana Troopers and the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association — testified in support. They called HB 85 necessary to restore actuarial soundness and to ensure the agencies can recruit and equip officers.

Proponents urged a due‑pass recommendation. Representative Bertoglio closed by stressing the need to maintain financially sound retirement systems to recruit and retain public safety personnel.

The hearing record shows no opponents in the room and that the bill will proceed to committee consideration.","Representative Marta Bertoglio offered House Bill 85 to repeal the \"modified layered amortization\" in last session's bill and restore employer contribution rates and a $4 million biennial appropriation for highway patrol contributions. Proponents said the change created funding shortfalls despite one‑time infusions last session.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619848,"Bill would change salary‑survey benchmark for state auditor to reflect modern duties",1162,2072000,3234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f&start=2072&end=3234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f/thumbnail_2072000.jpg","/articles/6619848/Montana/Bill-would-change-salarysurvey-benchmark-for-state-auditor-to-reflect-modern-duties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619848-93e03ef6f432fb486486809f484d792c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079694&Signature=jPatk38RODwtjPqwk6KcBhkxEql0qJNavyFxRq0J7R1Ft8EwEiJdpVXEBU70Qth40vWazNxbxAAH6L-HNyfDJcdacSJkiVLXPrHWmmqg1qr4mgKhTPNopCuN79cZbOH25VGbu9N~AhsI2aaN7bq9-0CDMa5Cx~MCXvTnarDYeGUE5kgJIHlWto8koShX0ycZaGf-gx9hSSZ7WK09zgJY2EaNXmNV9uysPYXc7~JmeUfKw2qmteB4ELnEiXsANNZe-8BHDMF2sUWdqqScRX2YCGdXWU3wrlkCnTdu9-Sy-YfRa83100bV1KI6nCtWoHHXNnRDNNWUnm2JO3TZ20TtyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative DeMaris told the committee House Bill 611 would correct a long‑standing mismatch between the constitutional office title \"state auditor\" and the modern duties of the elected official, who serves ex officio as commissioner of securities and insurance. The change would require the Department of Administration to survey salaries for the comparable office in surrounding states using the commissioner titles rather than the literal title \"auditor.\"

Frank Cote, deputy insurance commissioner, testified that the change reflects history dating to the 1972 constitution and longstanding practice: \"the official title of that office is the state auditor, but ... the job duties truly are being the commissioner of securities and insurance.\" He described why surveying like‑titled commissioners produces a more accurate comparison for salary setting.

Bonnie Shoemaker of the Department of Administration's state human resources division said she conducts the salary survey and supports the change because it will produce a more accurate match for the position.

Committee members asked whether the bill's title or punctuation could allow an early or unintended salary revision. Miss Harden, the committee's staff attorney, clarified that the bill title is descriptive only and the statutory changes — which the bill sets to take effect Jan. 1, 2028 — are what control implementation. Shoemaker confirmed she would not execute a survey before the statute's applicability date.

No opponents appeared. The hearing was closed after sponsor remarks and the committee received clarifying testimony from the Department of Administration.","Representative DeMaris presented House Bill 611 to instruct the Department of Administration to compare the Montana State Auditor's salary with surrounding states' commissioners of securities and insurance, aligning the survey with the office's actual duties.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619853,"Bill to eliminate dozens of routine state agency reports draws wide agency support",1041,964000,2005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f&start=964&end=2005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827200-27b67c46452453265550715f1416863f/thumbnail_964000.jpg","/articles/6619853/Montana/Bill-to-eliminate-dozens-of-routine-state-agency-reports-draws-wide-agency-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619853-cf9bfba39d007eee5eaae9bebfe9efba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771079694&Signature=SdI5bbWMb5dL34CNR8WxHlqtOrXtRbTUNRQ1cXGc-5ZGnVAOu7QURC750H5SsAhsgwEKwcym0H9yoBNSbOEu8u5ezuCupy0jHGBazjCUsfBONO0Lwv283lSJ25NCs7EJQXvm6mW8pdBB~EFhycVPrJwP9NRQTT4ub84DVMFYl~3ThSwilXpg5nDopHP9y39d5UIV1ML2eXEHwRAHjUZ9D3VDfmQ15y9IfaZYCVoWzMYl0mOKTiqnwDqSWPm2SSnhbcISkkOCxVgQPmoLf1gyKT0A8IgpsXDVm7iHrFb8z4cuKYoH5YuRdXqpKw2m~x9uIl6u6F0yniYOdorXaYNR~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Julie Darling told the Senate State Administration Committee House Bill 562 would remove a set of agency reporting mandates that state officials consider outdated or duplicative. Darling said the amendment she is carrying grew from an initial nine reports to roughly 15 across multiple agencies.

Lieutenant Governor Kristin Juras told the committee the effort responds to a Montana Code Annotated inventory of reporting requirements and that the agencies asking for relief identified reports that are \"outdated, duplicative, ... and not being used and no longer serve the purpose for which they were created.\"

Agency witnesses detailed staff time and low usefulness for several reports. Larry Flynn, deputy director for the Department of Transportation, said four DOT reports together represent only a fraction of DOT’s budget and that one reporting requirement has never produced an applicant in his 30 years of service. James Fehr, deputy director at the Department of Environmental Quality, said one compliance and enforcement report can take roughly 200 employee hours every two years.

Erin Weisgerber of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation told the committee the annual reporting requirement for the state water plan is an implementation‑period burden and that DNRC already makes the plan and related information available online; the department said the next comprehensive revision of the plan is due in 2035. DNRC also described related reports on hydroelectric study capacity and trust‑lands reporting as duplicative of materials already produced for the Environmental Quality Council and agency websites.

Other agencies represented included the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Department of Commerce, Department of Administration and Fish, Wildlife & Parks; proponents said the information remains available on request and the elimination of routine reports would let staff focus on core program work.

Senators asked whether the reports originated with interim committees; the sponsor and witnesses said many reporting obligations began as interim requests or targeted studies and then became recurring statutory duties over time. DEQ witnesses said the compliance and enforcement report was originally published starting in 1997 or 1998 and that in recent years it has drawn few follow‑up questions from legislators.

The committee heard proponents and informational witnesses; no opponents appeared in the room. Representative Darling closed by asking the committee to pass the bill.

The hearing was closed for committee consideration.","Representative Julie Darling presented House Bill 562 to repeal a set of recurring agency reports that agencies and the lieutenant governor said are outdated, duplicative or rarely used. Multiple state agencies testified that removing the requirements would free staff time without eliminating data access for the legislature.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would let local officials post mail‑ballot plans online instead of filing with Secretary of State

Senate State Administration committee advances several bills in executive action

Bill would roll back last session's amortization change for three law‑enforcement pensions, backers say

Bill would change salary‑survey benchmark for state auditor to reflect modern duties

Bill to eliminate dozens of routine state agency reports draws wide agency support