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Bill would add Capitol Complex to Montana Highway Patrol jurisdiction
Summary
Rep. Katie Zolikoff sponsored HB181 to explicitly add the Capitol Complex to Montana Highway Patrol jurisdiction to remove a statutory "gray area" about security and arrest authority; supporters from DOJ and MHP said the bill clarifies authority without precluding future contracting.
Representative Katie Zolikoff told the committee House Bill 181 would give the Montana Highway Patrol explicit jurisdiction over the Capitol Complex to resolve an apparent statutory ambiguity that emerged after the Helena Police Department stopped providing Capitol security in 2019 and the Highway Patrol assumed the role. "We are adding the Capitol complex to their jurisdiction...to close that loophole and to shine light on all the gray areas in MCA," Zolikoff said.
Alan Doane of the Montana Department of Justice offered a definitions handout and explained the bill would add the Capitol Complex as defined in statute into the highway-patrol coverage for state highway properties, extending coverage to state buildings within roughly a 10-mile radius of the Capitol with specified exclusions. Major Chan Barry, operations commander for the Montana Highway Patrol, said the change would more clearly define statutory authority and provide safeguards for arrests and court actions. He told the committee the current staffing model largely uses troopers based in the Helena area and that security staffing has not caused a major draw from field operations despite vacancies.
Supporters including Senator Sue Vinton and Jesse Luther of the Association of Montana Troopers urged the committee to pass the bill, praising MHP's performance securing the Capitol and noting the change does not eliminate future competitive procurements if the state chooses to solicit bids. Committee members asked whether the bill would change arrest authority or draw troopers from other duties; presenters said it primarily clarifies statutory coverage and that many troopers already assigned live locally.
Representative Zolikoff closed by recalling that a prior similar bill she carried earlier had become law in 2021 and asking for support; the committee closed the HB181 hearing with informational witnesses available for questions.
