County staff update commissioners on several bills; board tracked multiple positions

County legislative staff briefed commissioners on several bills moving through the Montana Legislature and reported the county’s positions or concerns.

Key items covered: - House Bill 643: Staff had initially supported HB 643 because it would have reimbursed counties for detention costs at actual rates and would have covered DPHHS holds; amendments in committee capped reimbursement at 82 and the county changed to oppose as amended. Staff said lobbyists are working on amendments to restore earlier provisions. - Senate Bill 451 (libraries): The bill would have narrowed the statutory definition of basic library services and risked constraining partner services delivered through libraries; staff said the bill was tabled in committee after county messaging. - Senate Bill 298: The county opposed a bill that would revise duties of the Secretary of State in ways that could create supervisory overlap over elections administrators; staff said that bill was tabled in committee. - Senate Bill 428 (county speed limits): Staff described this sponsor-led bill to allow counties to set 25 mph limits in urban districts; the bill passed the Senate and was moving to the House at the time of the briefing. - House Bill 697 (employee privacy): The bill would have limited local governments’ ability to redact private information from email records before disclosure; staff opposed because it could force public disclosure of private employee data. HB 697 was tabled and did not transmit.

Staff reminded the board that during the transmittal break nonrevenue bills that do not transmit between houses become inactive until the next stage of the session.

Why it matters: these bills affect county finances (detention reimbursement), administration of elections, library services and local control over speed limits and public records handling.

What’s next: staff said they will return with further updates and additional bills to review at the next meeting.