HB 276 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Standardize service of process for professional licenses

HB 276 standardizes how official notices are delivered to individuals holding or applying for professional licenses in Montana. The bill allows for electronic delivery of notices or orders if the licensee or applicant provides consent and a current email address. It also establishes a general requirement for licensees and applicants to update their mailing address with the relevant state department or board within 30 days of any change. Additionally, the bill adjusts the timeframe for requesting a hearing to contest charges from 20 to 21 days, and clarifies accepted methods for serving notices. These changes aim to streamline communication processes for professional licensing boards and their licensees.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed May 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0276_1(7).pdf HB0276_X.pdf · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill standardizes how professional licensees in Montana must provide contact information and consent to electronic service of legal notices. It creates a uniform requirement for licensees to update their addresses and email addresses within 30 days of any change, and establishes clear procedures for how the state can serve legal notices electronically when licensees consent to it. The bill also removes outdated or conflicting provisions and repeals one specific section that was no longer needed.
Scope change
The bill applies uniformly across multiple professional licensing chapters (37-1, 37-4, 37-16, and 37-18) that previously had inconsistent or overlapping requirements for contact information updates and notice service methods.
REQUIREMENT

Added a uniform 30-day requirement for all licensees to notify the department of any address or email address changes

Added provisions allowing electronic service of legal notices when licensees explicitly consent to it

Modified notice service procedures in multiple MCA sections to prioritize electronic service over certified mail when consent is given

Removed duplicate and conflicting provisions that created inconsistencies across different professional licensing chapters

Repealed Section 37-3-310 which was identified as duplicative and conflicting with other provisions

Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025 · House Feb 4, 2025

How they voted

462
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 10, 2025
D Democratic18
16 Yea 2 Nay
88% Yea
R Republican32
30 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 1, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-2-2)
senate
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 4, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (100-0)
house
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Randyn Gregg
Randyn Gregg
RRepublican
MT
78