Senate transportation panel unanimously concurs with House Bill 99, a motor-vehicle cleanup bill

The Montana Senate Transportation Committee voted unanimously to concur with House Bill 99, a bill the committee described as a broad cleanup of motor-vehicle statutes.

"House Bill 99 was a bill proposed by the Transportation Interim Committee," a committee staff member said during the hearing. "It is an act generally revising laws related to motor vehicle laws for clarity and consistency. I drafted this bill for [the Transportation Interim Committee]."

Senator Olson asked about the removal of language on page 91, lines 6–9 (section 56) that earlier had specified penalties for a particular offense. Committee staff explained the deleted language mirrored the default penalty provision found in MCA section 61-9-5-11; retaining it in the later section created unnecessary duplication and potential confusion.

"That language exactly mirrors the language of 61-9-5-11 ... which provides for a offense, conviction ... the fine of $10 to $100 for a first conviction, fine of $25 to $200 for a second conviction, and a fine of $50 to $500 for a third or subsequent conviction," the staff member said. "The reason for removing that language ... is that it mirrors exactly 5-11. It just leads to confusion."

Committee members moved to concur and held an executive-action voice vote. Proxies were recorded for absent members; the committee chair declared the concurrence unanimous.

House Bill 99 will proceed to the next steps in the legislative process with the committee’s concurrence recorded.