Revise voter registration laws to include party preference
SB 129 would allow Montana voters to voluntarily indicate a political party preference (such as Democratic, Green, Libertarian, Republican, or "prefer not to answer") when registering to vote or updating their registration. The bill requires that this preference be included in official voter registration lists and precinct registers, using a standardized form with specific party options. If enacted, the changes would take effect on January 1, 2026, directly affecting voters who choose to select a party preference on their registration.
Bill status
died
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Jan 2025
House Failed
Mar 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 10, 2025
Last action May 23, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 7 comparisons
What changed between versions
SB0129_1(7).pdf
→
SB0129_2(11).pdf
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered and its effective date was changed from immediate to delayed. The most significant policy change expands the list of political parties on voter registration forms to include any party qualified under state law, rather than just four specific parties. Additionally, the requirement for precinct-specific voter registers was removed, allowing election administrators to use a single combined register for all precincts.
Scope change
The bill now applies to all political parties qualified under state law, not just the four previously listed options.
TIMELINE
The effective date was changed from immediate to delayed.
REQUIREMENT
The list of political party options on voter registration forms was expanded to include any party qualified under state law.
The requirement for separate voter registers for each precinct was removed, allowing a single combined register.
Floor votes · Senate Jan 31, 2025 · House Mar 28, 2025
How they voted
29–21
Passed
Total votes 50
Jan 31, 2025
D
Democratic18
100% Nay
R
Republican32
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Mar 28, 2025
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (48-52)
house
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) State Administration
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) State Administration
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (29-21)
senate
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) State Administration
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) State Administration
upper
Jan 13, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration
upper
Jan 10, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jeremy Trebas
RRepublican
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