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Senate panel backs bill to send ballot-measure disputes to district court first
Summary
Senate Bill 13 passed second reading in committee by a recorded vote of 32–18. The bill would remove original jurisdiction over most ballot-measure challenges from the Montana Supreme Court so those matters begin in district court; proponents say it adds fact-finding at the trial level, opponents said it risks slowing ballot timelines.
Senate Bill 13, a measure to change judicial review for ballot measures so that most challenges begin in district court instead of the Montana Supreme Court, won committee approval on second reading by a recorded vote of 32–18.
Sponsor Senator Emmerich described the change as "one small change" that removes original jurisdiction the Legislature had previously given the Supreme Court on ballot measures,…
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