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Senate Judiciary advances several bills, tables one: SB 329, SB 370, SB 312, SB 261 and SB 127 move forward
Summary
During executive action the committee passed or advanced multiple bills (SB 329 on E-Verify, SB 370 on juror pay, SB 312 on child-sexual-abuse civil statute of limitations, SB 261 revising child endangerment for exposure to controlled substances, and SB 127 on self-defense). One bill (SB 284) was tabled at the sponsor’s request.
The Montana Senate Judiciary Committee completed executive action on several bills during the session, advancing a package of measures and tabling one matter at the sponsor’s request.
Key outcomes
- SB 329 (E-Verify-related): The committee voted to pass SB 329 out of committee. Recorded roll-call language in the transcript shows the measure passed the panel with six votes in favor and two opposed. The transcript contains discussion that E-Verify would not add new routine financial or personnel-record access beyond current I-9 practices and that members were persuaded to support the bill.
- SB 370 (juror pay; amendment and passage): The committee approved an amendment that segregated reimbursement language and later passed SB 370 as amended. The sponsor and committee discussed raising daily juror pay (the amendment considered $60 per day versus a lower figure) and preserving reimbursement lines to ensure local entities are compensated; the committee adopted the segregated amendment (roll-call on the segregation showed 8 yes votes) and ultimately passed the bill as amended.
- SB 312 (civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse): The committee voted to pass SB 312 (sponsor Senator Morigeau). The sponsor described the bill as matching a prior criminal-law change (lifting criminal limitations) and extending the civil statute of limitations for child sexual-abuse claims so adult survivors can file civil suits later in life; the committee passed it on a voice vote during executive action.
- SB 261 (revising endangering welfare of children; controlled substances exposure): The committee adopted an amendment (technical compromise language) and passed SB 261 as amended. The amendment added an exception clarifying that incidental exposure to lawful adult marijuana use (e.g., incidental secondhand smoke) would not itself constitute the new offense; a roll call after amendment adoption recorded five yes votes and three no votes on final passage.
- SB 127 (justifiable use/ self-defense revision): The committee reopened the bill from the table, reconsidered previous committee action, adopted a sponsor amendment to refine language, and passed SB 127 as amended. The transcript recorded a roll-call on the final motion with five yes votes and three no votes.
- SB 284: The sponsor requested SB 284 be tabled; the committee granted the motion by voice vote and the bill was tabled.
What the votes mean: Several measures were advanced with amendments negotiated on the committee floor. Where recorded tallies exist in the transcript the committee majority carried the measures (noted above). In a handful of cases proxies for absent senators were recorded on voice or roll-call votes in the transcript.
Next steps: Measures that passed out of committee will be reported to the Senate for floor consideration as required by legislative procedure. Bills returned to committee for further drafting or tabling will remain under sponsor or stakeholder negotiation before the next legislative deadline.
Ending: The committee concluded its executive action session after advancing the bills above; senators and staff reminded sponsors of amendment and filing deadlines before the transmittal of committee-reported measures.
