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Montana bill clarifies 'temporary' residency language; witnesses disagree over student voting impact
Summary
Representative Jane Gillette introduced House Bill 413 to clarify what Montana law means by "temporary" residence, saying the change would not alter existing eligibility rules but would define temporary work, training and education programs as non-residency.
Representative Jane Gillette introduced House Bill 413 to the Senate State Administration Committee, saying the measure clarifies an existing law that prevents people who are in a county only for temporary purposes "without the intention of making that county the individual's home" from gaining residence there.
The bill, Gillette said, does not change who can vote but clarifies what the code means by "temporary," listing temporary work, temporary training and temporary education programs as examples. "House bill 4 1 3 just clarifies, an existing section of law," Gillette told the committee.
Why it matters: supporters said the bill addresses confusion between short-term physical presence and legal domicile — a long-running issue in Montana code — and could help election administrators and the public understand eligibility rules. Opponents, including student organizations and tribal…
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