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Secretary of State highlights fully digital business filing, fee waivers and 2024 election success
Summary
The Secretary of State told the House State Administration Committee the office moved to a fully digital business filing system serving more than 300,000 businesses, waived the 2024 annual report fee (and will waive again in 2025), and described the 2024 elections as successful while discussing staffing and system upgrades.
The Secretary of State told the House State Administration Committee the office completed a nationwide first in moving to a fully digital business filing system that serves more than 300,000 businesses and announced the office waived the 2024 annual report filing fee and will waive that fee again for 2025.
"We were the first in the country to go completely digital for our business filing system that serves over 300,000 businesses in the state," the Secretary of State said, adding the office had eliminated some fees and saw a record number of new business filings in 2024.
The official also described operational changes: staff reductions over the last four years while maintaining service levels, replacement of an 18‑year‑old administrative rule system, and routine public reporting of performance metrics. On elections, the office said the 2024 primary and general elections ran successfully and the agency is already preparing for the next cycle.
Why it matters: The digital filing platform and repeated fee waivers lower administrative costs for businesses and affect how Montanans register and maintain business entities; election administration updates bear on public confidence and planning for future elections.
Details: The Secretary of State introduced key staff by name and role, including Chief Deputy Angela Nunn, elections director Austin James, and project managers responsible for the rule‑system replacement and an election video series. The office emphasized customer service and published metrics for response and processing times.
Next steps: The office asked members to consult its website for published business statistics and to attend its regular "Capital Coffee" events; the agency said it will continue to refine services and report performance data to the legislature.
