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Committee hears bill to stop printing code index to save publishing costs
Summary
House Bill 115 would eliminate the printed index to the Montana code; sponsor and co‑commissioner said printers sold only a few copies and the move is expected to save about $34,000 in the next biennium.
Representative Steve Fitzpatrick told the committee House Bill 115 would end the requirement that the legislative branch print the index to the Montana Code, saying modern users rely on online search tools and the printed index is rarely purchased.
Todd Everts, the co‑commissioner and chief legal counsel for the Legislative Services Division, answered committee questions and confirmed the fiscal note estimates a $34,000 savings in the next biennium; he said no immediate savings occur this biennium because of an existing printing contract. Fitzpatrick said only three copies of the printed index were sold recently, underscoring the limited demand.
No proponents or opponents appeared apart from the sponsor and the co‑commissioner who served as an informational witness. The committee closed the hearing and will consider executive action per the committee calendar.
The bill does not change the content of the code; it removes the separately printed index volume the legislative branch has provided in prior years.
