Sign Up
HB 542 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise DUI offense penalties for third offense to be a felony

House Bill 542 aims to revise the penalties for individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) offenses. It increases the minimum imprisonment terms for first convictions from 24 to 72 consecutive hours, and for second convictions from 7 to 30 days. While the bill's title indicates an intent to reclassify a third DUI offense as a felony, the provided text
Issues: ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases DUI penalties (72h jail for first, 30d for second, third offense as felony), directly increasing mandatory sentences which opposes criminal justice reform trends.95% confidence
Bill status died 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Failed
Mar 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Last action May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0542_1(5).pdf → HB0542_2.pdf · 5 edits
MODERATE
HB 542 amends Montana's DUI penalty laws to increase minimum jail time for first-time and repeat offenders. The changes raise minimum imprisonment from 24 hours to 3 days for first offenses and from 7 days to 30 days for second offenses, while also adjusting passenger-related penalties. These stricter penalties aim to deter impaired driving by imposing more significant consequences on offenders.
Scope change
The bill applies to all DUI violations under 61-8-1002(1)(a) in Montana, affecting first-time, second-time, and third-time offenders with enhanced minimum jail sentences.
REQUIREMENT

Increased minimum imprisonment for first DUI offense from 24 hours to 3 days (72 consecutive hours)

Increased minimum imprisonment for second DUI offense from 7 days to 30 days

Increased minimum imprisonment for first offense with underage passengers from 48 hours to 5 days

Increased minimum imprisonment for second offense with underage passengers from 14 days to 45 days

TECHNICAL

Removed reference to mandatory participation in drug or DUI courts for certain conditions

Floor votes · House Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

33–66
Failed · 1 other
Total votes 100
Mar 3, 2025
D Democratic42
2 Yea 40 Nay
95% Nay
R Republican58
31 Yea 26 Nay 1
53% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Mar 3, 2025
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (33-66-1)
house
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Steve Kelly
Steve Kelly
RRepublican
MT
9