HB 323 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Allow counties to pay reserve deputy sheriff's officers

House Bill 323 allows county governing bodies to provide a salary to reserve deputy sheriff's officers. It amends Section 7-4-2503 of state law, granting county commissioners the authority to set the pay for these officers. This change directly impacts reserve deputy sheriff's officers by making them eligible for compensation, and gives county commissions the discretion to establish salaries for these roles.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 28, 2025 Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0323_X(2).pdf HB0323_X(3).pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to change the title and scope of compensation. Originally, the act allowed counties to provide salary compensation to reserve deputy sheriff's officers. The amendment broadens this to allow counties to provide general compensation to reserve deputy sheriff's officers, removing the specific restriction to 'salary' and expanding the title to 'reserve deputy sheriff's officers' from 'reserve deputy sheriff's officers' (context implies a title adjustment). This change likely allows for more flexible forms of compensation beyond just a salary, such as stipends or reimbursement, and clarifies the title of the individuals covered.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from providing specific 'salary compensation' to providing general 'compensation', potentially broadening the types of financial support counties can offer to reserve deputies.
ELIGIBILITY

The title of the covered individuals was adjusted to 'reserve deputy sheriff's officers', clarifying the specific group eligible for compensation.

FISCAL

The requirement for 'salary compensation' was changed to 'compensation', removing the restriction that the payment must be a salary and allowing for other forms of financial reimbursement.

TECHNICAL

The title of the act was updated to reflect the broader scope of compensation allowed under the new language.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 11, 2025 · House Feb 20, 2025

How they voted

471
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 11, 2025
D Democratic18
17 Yea 1
94% Yea
R Republican32
30 Yea 1 Nay 1
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
44
Key actions
10
Committee
7
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 11, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (47-1-2)
senate
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Local Government
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Local Government
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Local Government
upper
Feb 20, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (91-8-1)
house
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Local Government
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Local Government
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Local Government
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Local Government
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Steve Fitzpatrick
Steve Fitzpatrick
RRepublican
MT
24