HB 650 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise bonding laws to include broadband projects

HB 650 revises state bonding laws by expanding the definition of "project" to include facilities that provide broadband service. This change allows municipalities and counties to issue bonds to fund projects aimed at delivering broadband services. Specifically, it targets areas where existing broadband speeds are below 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second upload. The bill provides a mechanism for local governments to finance the development of high-speed internet infrastructure in underserved locations.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 21, 2025 Signed May 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0650_X(1).pdf HB0650_X(2).pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to remove the word 'REVISING' from the title, clarifying that the legislation focuses on amending existing definitions rather than creating new ones. A new definition was added to the eligibility criteria for broadband projects, specifying that qualifying areas must be 'unserved' or 'underserved' as defined in a specific section of the law. The effective date for the act was set to January 1, 2028, and the document was finalized by removing the end-of-file marker.
Scope change
The scope of the bill was slightly narrowed in its title description but expanded in its eligibility criteria by adding a specific definition for qualifying broadband areas.
DEFINITION

Removed the word 'REVISING' from the bill title to streamline the description of the legislative action.

ELIGIBILITY

Added the phrase 'as defined' to the list of eligible broadband service areas, ensuring they strictly match the legal definition in section 90-1-602.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the act to January 1, 2028.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 11, 2025 · House Apr 17, 2025

How they voted

426
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 11, 2025
D Democratic18
16 Yea 1 Nay 1
88% Yea
R Republican32
26 Yea 5 Nay 1
81% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
2
May 1, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 17, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (61-38-1)
house
Apr 12, 2025
Introduced
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (42-6-2)
senate
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Mar 1, 2025
Amended
(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Feb 22, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Caleb Hinkle
Caleb Hinkle
RRepublican
MT
68