Senate committee advances bill to extend temporary vehicle registration from 40 to 60 days

Senate Finance and Claims on Feb. 12 advanced Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Senator Becky Beard, to extend the vehicle titling grace period and the expiration date for temporary registration permits from 40 days to 60 days.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Becky Beard (Senate District 38), told the committee the change “will provide local governments with more time to notify customers with confirmations” and would convert “40 day stickers to 60 day stickers to avoid delays in vehicle title work caused by system procedures.” She told members the estimated programming cost to change the period in the credentialing and registration system is “about $20,000,” and the fiscal note notes the trade-off could be a reduction in anticipated late fees collected from residents.

Lewis and Clark County Treasurer Amy Reeves, representing the Montana County Treasurer’s Association, endorsed the bill and added that the late fees Beard referenced are collected for both new and used vehicles. Reeves said, “This bill is going to help mostly for the new vehicles. As a new vehicle, the dealerships have 30 days to get their title work to us. So, used vehicle is over a hundred days. So you'll still be collecting some of those late fees that were mentioned.”

The Montana Auto Dealers Association’s executive vice president, Bruce Knudsen, called the bill “a simple bill, probably the simplest one I've ever seen,” and said he supported it as beneficial to Montana dealers and customers.

Informational witnesses included Eric Belford, administrator for the Motor Carrier Services Division at the Montana Department of Transportation, who said he was available to answer technical questions related to motor carrier or IRP issues, and Beth Thompson, budget supervisor for the Montana Department of Justice, who was available “if you have any questions on the fiscal note.” Thompson confirmed the $20,000 figure was the vendor quote to reprogram the system and said she would need to refer to the contract for a precise description of change-order pricing.

The committee voted in executive action to pass Senate Bill 28 out of Finance and Claims. The bill now proceeds to the next stage of the legislative process.

The bill focuses on a single, narrowly defined administrative change to timelines for title work; sponsors and proponents said it is aimed at easing administrative delays for dealerships and county motor vehicle offices.

Votes at executive action: the committee reported that the motion to pass carried by voice vote with proxies assumed as yes; a roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript.

Ending: With the committee’s approval, the bill will move forward to the next chamber stage where fiscal details and any implementation instructions will be subject to further review.