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Bill to lengthen public-notice timeframe for elections clears committee hearing
Summary
Senate Bill 115 would change the required publication window for certain public notices from 10 days to 12 days to accommodate weekly newspapers and reduce duplicate ads; clerk-and-recorder association supported the change as a cost and timing improvement.
Senator Wendy McCamey explained that Senate Bill 115 would change the required publication timeframe for certain election-related public notices from 10 days to 12 days, a technical change aimed at aligning notice deadlines with weekly and biweekly local newspapers.
"If we just moved it to 12 days, it would accommodate both end-of-week papers and beginning-of-week papers," McCamey said, explaining the statutory change would reduce the need for multiple publications and lower costs for counties and election officials.
Regina Plettenberg, representing the Montana Association of Clerks and Recorders, told the committee that several county clerks had requested the change and that the amendment would not prevent counties from publishing additional notices when they choose. "A lot of our papers are going weekly or biweekly," Plettenberg said, and the 12-day window would give clerks more practical flexibility.
No opponents testified at the hearing and no informational witnesses were required. The sponsor closed the hearing and urged the committee to pass the bill.
