SB 226: Require petition submittals be dropped off within a specific timeframe - Montana

SB0226_X(3).pdf → SB0226_X(4).pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill adds a specific deadline for submitting petition signature affidavits to county election administrators, requiring submission 84 days before the final filing date. This change clarifies the timeline for gathering signatures, ensuring petitions are reviewed well before the final filing deadline to prevent last-minute administrative bottlenecks.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on revising the certification process for petition signatures, but the applicability is now tied to a stricter, explicit timeline for submission.

TIMELINE

The deadline for submitting signature affidavits was clarified to be 84 days before the final date provided in the relevant section for filing the petition, replacing a fragmented or missing deadline.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and spacing adjustments were made to the header and footer text, including page numbers and the designation of the document as an 'Enrolled Bill'.

SB0226_4(3).pdf → SB0226_X.pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the Montana Code to establish specific filing deadlines for petition signature affidavits based on when the first signature was collected. It replaces a single deadline with a tiered system requiring submissions 273, 182, 112, or 84 days before the final filing date, depending on how far in advance the petitioning began. The bill also clarifies that late filings will be rejected and adds an immediate effective date.

Scope change

The bill expands the procedural requirements for petitioners by introducing a tiered timeline system that applies based on the date of the first signature collected, rather than a single uniform deadline.

TIMELINE

Replaced a single 4-week submission deadline with a tiered system requiring affidavits to be submitted 273, 182, 112, or 84 days before the final filing date, depending on when the first signature was gathered.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory rejection clause stating that if an affidavit is not submitted within the required timeline, the county election administrator must reject the filing and cannot process it further.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the effective date provision from 'on passage and approval' to 'immediate,' allowing the new filing deadlines to take effect right away.

SB0226_3(12).pdf → SB0226_4.pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill number was updated from SB 226.3 to SB 226.4. The most significant change involves the timeline for submitting signature affidavits to election officials. The original text required submission within 4 weeks of the first signature, while the new text adds a strict deadline of 112 days before the final filing date. Additionally, the new version includes a conflicting clause that reverts to the original 4-week submission rule, creating a potential contradiction in the requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on petition filing procedures, but the specific deadlines for compliance have been altered and complicated by the inclusion of contradictory instructions.

TIMELINE

Added a new mandatory deadline requiring signature affidavits to be submitted 112 days before the final filing date, alongside the existing 4-week rule.

Introduced multiple conflicting submission deadlines (287, 196, 126, and 98 days) for different affidavit scenarios, creating ambiguity in the filing requirements.

REQUIREMENT

The text now contains contradictory instructions, stating both that submissions must be made within 4 weeks and that they must be made by specific long-term deadlines before the final filing date.

SB0226_2(12).pdf → SB0226_3.pdf · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill number was updated from SB 226.2 to SB 226.3. The most significant change is the addition of a strict deadline requiring signature affidavits to be submitted at least 84 days before the final petition filing date, whereas the previous version did not specify this advance notice requirement. This change aims to ensure election officials have sufficient time to process and verify signatures before the filing deadline.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding petition filing procedures was expanded to include a new mandatory timeline for submitting supporting documentation.

TIMELINE

Added a requirement that signature affidavits must be submitted at least 84 days prior to the final petition filing deadline.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the text describing the submission process to explicitly link the 84-day deadline with the rejection of late filings.

SB0226_1(6).pdf → SB0226_2.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was reorganized to move the effective date clause to a new section, while adding new procedural requirements for signature affidavits. Specifically, the bill now mandates that election administrators must date, time-stamp, and log affidavits upon receipt, and it clarifies the timeline for submitting these documents to prevent processing delays.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include new administrative procedures for handling signature affidavits and restructured the effective date of the legislation.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for election administrators to date and time-stamp affidavits, register them in a log, and provide a receipt to the signature gatherer.

Added a specific deadline requiring affidavits to be submitted within 4 weeks of the first collected signature.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a consequence stating that if the affidavit is not submitted within the 4-week window, the filing must be rejected and cannot be processed further.

TIMELINE

Moved the effective date provision from the introduction to a new 'NEW SECTION' to clarify when the act takes effect.

LC2577.pdf → SB0226_1.pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill's identifier was updated from LC 226 to SB 226, indicating a shift from a House bill to a Senate bill. The document title was changed to 'Authorized Print Version', and the bill number on the first page was updated to reflect the Senate bill number.

TECHNICAL

The bill identifier was changed from LC 226 to SB 226, reflecting its introduction in the Senate.

The document title was updated to 'Authorized Print Version - SB 226'.

The bill number on the first page was updated to 'SENATE BILL NO. 226'.

Require petition submittals be dropped off within a specific timeframe

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