HB 126: Revise legislative oversight of administrative rules and encourage public comment - Montana

HB0126_2(12).pdf → HB0126_X.pdf · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill updates Montana's administrative rulemaking laws to modernize how agencies accept and disseminate public comments, primarily by mandating electronic mail systems and clarifying notification procedures for primary sponsors and interested parties.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of electronic communication requirements for state agencies, shifting from optional or paper-based methods to mandatory electronic dissemination for public comments and proposal notices.

REQUIREMENT

Mandates that agencies accepting public comments must use an electronic mail system to receive input, replacing or supplementing previous methods.

Requires agencies to actively disseminate their electronic mail addresses for public comments through rulemaking notices, telephone directories, and internet notices.

Clarifies that agencies must send electronic copies of proposal notices to administrative rule review committees and interested parties concurrently with filing, rather than requiring separate physical copies.

Allows agencies to notify interested parties of proposal availability via electronic links on agency websites instead of mailing physical copies, provided the interested party consents.

DEFINITION

Reaffirms the definition of 'agency' to include various executive branch entities, ensuring the new electronic requirements apply broadly across state government.

TECHNICAL

Updates the bill header and formatting to reflect the enrolled version, changing the title from 'HB0126.2' to 'HB 126' and adjusting the effective date language.

HB0126_1(7).pdf → HB0126_2(8).pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill underwent minor formatting and numbering adjustments, including the removal of separator lines and the standardization of the bill number from 'HB 126.1' to 'HB0126.2'. These changes appear to be technical updates for the legislative record rather than substantive policy modifications.

TECHNICAL

Removed decorative separator lines ('****') from the header sections.

Changed the bill number format from 'HB 126.1' to 'HB0126.2' in the headers.

HB0126_2(7).pdf → HB0126_1(7).pdf · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill underwent a technical renumbering from HB 126.2 to HB 126.1, likely to align with a new legislative session or numbering sequence. The content of the bill remains substantively unchanged, as the text and formatting of the actual provisions were preserved without policy modifications.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from HB 126.2 to HB 126.1, and the page headers were updated to reflect this new number.

HB0126_1(6).pdf → HB0126_2(7).pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill underwent minor formatting and numbering updates, including a change in the bill number from HB 126.1 to HB0126.2 and the removal of separator lines. These changes are technical in nature and do not alter the substantive policy, scope, or requirements of the legislation.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was updated from HB 126.1 to HB0126.2 throughout the document.

Separator lines (****) were removed from the header sections.

The year '2025' was moved to a new line above the legislature number in the header.

HB0126_2(6).pdf → HB0126_1(6).pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill text was renumbered from HB 0126.2 to HB 126.1, and the year was updated from 2025 to 2026. These changes appear to be technical formatting updates and renumbering rather than substantive policy shifts.

TECHNICAL

Bill number changed from HB 0126.2 to HB 126.1.

Legislative year changed from 2025 to 2026.

HB0126_1(5).pdf → HB0126_2.pdf · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill underwent a technical renumbering and formatting update, shifting from HB 126.1 to HB0126.2. This change reflects a standard legislative procedure to update the bill's identifier and print version markers without altering any substantive policy, scope, or legal requirements.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was updated from HB 126.1 to HB0126.2, and the header formatting was adjusted to remove separator lines and update version identifiers.

LC1205.pdf → HB0126_1.pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The document was updated from a legislative committee draft (LC1205) to the final House Bill version (HB 126). The primary changes involve formatting the bill number, adding the names of the sponsors (D. Bedey and J. Fitzpatrick), and updating the footer text to reflect the official bill number instead of the draft identifier.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from the draft identifier 'LC1205' to the official House Bill number 'HB 126' throughout the header and footer sections.

The names of the bill sponsors, D. Bedey and J. Fitzpatrick, were added to the introductory section.

Revise legislative oversight of administrative rules and encourage public comment

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