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House committee adopts amendment to raise speeds on targeted rural stretches and passes HB312 9–5
Summary
The House Transportation Committee approved an amendment to HB312 setting a 75 mph daytime/70 mph nighttime limit on specified rural segments and passed the bill as amended on a 9–5 roll-call vote. The measure excludes commercial (truck) speed changes and includes local taper zones near towns.
The Montana House Transportation Committee on Friday approved an amendment and then passed House Bill 312 as amended, a measure that raises speed limits on a defined rural stretch of highway and sets clarified daytime and nighttime limits.
The committee adopted amendment 3 12.1.1, which narrows the change to routes 10 miles or longer and sets a 75 miles-per-hour daytime limit and a 70 miles-per-hour nighttime limit for qualifying noncommercial vehicles; permanent special speed zones (for curves, construction, school zones and similar safety reasons) remain exempt. "It changes the distance to 10 miles or greater, and it's not subject to permanent special speed zones," legislative staff Casey explained during the amendment discussion. "Changes [the] speed limit to 75 during the daytime, 70 during the nighttime." (Casey)
Sponsor Representative Jerry Schellinger and proponents said the amendment is tailored to a specific section of Highway 287 between Interstate 90 and Townsend; the text adds tapering approaches near towns so limits step down before interchanges. Committee members also noted commercial motor vehicles are governed under a different statutory section and the bill does not change truck speed limits, which remain at 65 mph under current law.
Vice Chair Wirth moved HB312 do pass as once amended. After committee discussion the committee called for a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded 9 votes in favor and 5 opposed; the chair announced that HB312 passed out of committee.
Vote (roll call as recorded in committee): Chair Durham — Aye; Vice Chair Baum — No; Representative Hinkle — Yes; Representative Byrne — Yes; Representative Darling — Yes; Representative Sprunger — Yes; Representative Smith — No (by proxy); Representative Cafaro — No (by proxy); Representative Fitzpatrick — No (by proxy); Representative Clacken — Yes; Representative Cochran — Yes (by proxy); Representative Staffman — Yes; Representative Sullivan — No (by proxy); Vice Chair Wirth — Yes. The committee announced the tally as 9 in favor and 5 opposed.
Supporters argued the change reflects roadway improvements (four-lane segments with passing lanes) and is intended to improve traffic flow; opponents cautioned that newly reconstructed highways and traffic mix (including heavy trucks) require careful consideration of safety and enforcement. Representative Bowne questioned whether raising noncommercial limits would materially improve passing dynamics, noting the persistent five-mile differential between noncommercial and commercial speed limits.
The committee recorded the amendment and final passage; next steps are committee transmittal to the House floor for scheduling and further consideration.
