Committee backs interim study of Montana’s statewide public safety radio system

Representative Shane Clacken, sponsor of House Joint Resolution 57, told the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee the resolution requests an interim study of the Statewide Public Safety Communication Systems Act to evaluate system functionality, sustainability and funding for future needs and disaster response. "This resolution is critical to the role of a reliable, interoperable radio communication systems for public safety," Clacken said.

Laura Schultz, project manager for the Department of Justice, told the committee the Department supports the study, noting an earlier amendment to House Bill 2 requires revisiting program funding in 2027. "DOJ welcomes the study and looks forward to working with an interim committee to develop recommendations for the best path forward," Schultz said. Shelby Demars, representing L3Harris, said the company supports the study and offered industry participation.

Mike Feldman, the statewide public safety communications program manager, was present as an informational witness and offered to answer technical questions about the system, which the sponsor said supports over 12,000 users across 74 radio tower sites, 15 dispatch centers and a microwave network. The sponsor said the study would examine governance, long-term sustainability, integration of new technologies and funding mechanisms, and would report results to the seventieth legislature by Sept. 15, 2026.

The committee held the hearing and later approved HJ57 in executive action, recording the motion to do pass and reporting the concurrence during the floor motion (executive action recorded by the committee). The resolution will move to the House for further consideration.