Provide funding to increase correctional capacity
HB 833 provides funding to increase Montana's correctional capacity, directly affecting the state's prison system and the Department of Corrections. The bill establishes a "Future of Corrections Fund" and appropriates a total of $250 million from the general fund. Of this, $30 million is for system assessment, planning, and technology. The remaining $220 million is allocated either for constructing a new state correctional facility or, contingently, for securing additional capacity through other agreements, which may include private correctional facilities, if the budget director determines state construction is not in the state's best interest.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Mar 17, 2025
Signed May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB0833_X(2).pdf
→
HB0833_X(3).pdf
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill's title was updated to clarify that it authorizes agreements to secure additional correctional capacity and includes a transfer of funds provision. The primary substantive change is the specification of the funding source in Section 4, which now explicitly states that the $246 million appropriation comes from the 'capital developments long-range building program account.' Minor formatting corrections were made to remove redundant words like 'correctional facilities' appearing twice in the title and Section 7.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on funding and planning for new correctional facilities, renovations, and purchasing options, with no change to the entities or projects covered.
FISCAL
Section 4 was updated to specify that the $246 million appropriation is drawn from the 'capital developments long-range building program account' in the capital projects fund type provided for in 17-7-209.
TECHNICAL
The bill title and Section 7 were edited to remove redundant phrasing (e.g., 'correctional facility correctional facilities') and improve grammatical flow.
The title was amended to explicitly mention 'providing for a transfer of funds' and 'leasing-to-own agreements' for clarity.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 23, 2025 · House Apr 5, 2025
How they voted
46–4
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 23, 2025
D
Democratic18
88% Yea
R
Republican32
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
49
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 13, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-4)
senate
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 5, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (86-12-2)
house
Mar 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Appropriations
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
John Fitzpatrick
RRepublican
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