SB 242 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Revise election laws related to ballot form and uniformity

Senate Bill 242 revises election laws to enhance uniformity in ballot design and appearance across the state. It mandates the Secretary of State to adopt statewide uniform rules for ballot forms, addressing elements like how ballots are corrected and provisions for write-in candidates. The bill requires that all candidate names on a ballot must appear in the same font size and style. Additionally, it specifies that the words "official ballot" must be printed directly on the ballot, ensuring no part of the mark appears on the stub.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed Apr 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0242_1(4).pdf SB0242_X.pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill text was reorganized to include official certification signatures and a new title indicating an immediate effective date. The substantive policy content regarding ballot form rules and effective dates remains unchanged.
TECHNICAL

Added certification signatures for the Secretary of the Senate, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House, along with a new title specifying an immediate effective date.

Removed the previous version marker (SB 242.1) and the original title which listed an effective date upon passage.

Reformatted the bill structure to separate the enacted text from the certification block, while retaining the core amendments to MCA sections 13-12-202 and 13-13-116.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 1, 2025 · House Mar 31, 2025

How they voted

3119
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 1, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
13 Yea 19 Nay
59% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 17, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Mar 31, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (71-28-1)
house
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) State Administration
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) State Administration
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Mar 1, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (31-19)
senate
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Wendy McKamey
Wendy McKamey
RRepublican
MT
12