SB 444 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise criminal procedure laws

SB 444 revises criminal procedure laws related to search warrants. It amends existing law to require law enforcement officers to show a search warrant to a known lawful occupant of a property when a search is being conducted. This change ensures that occupants present during a search are directly presented with the warrant. The bill maintains the requirement for officers to provide a copy of the warrant and a receipt for any seized property.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0444_X(2).pdf SB0444_X(3).pdf · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill text contains minor formatting adjustments and the removal of a closing 'END' marker, but no substantive policy changes were made. The core legal provisions regarding property searches and the effective date remain identical.
TECHNICAL

Removed blank lines and the 'END' marker at the conclusion of the document.

Adjusted spacing around the text describing the amendment to Section 46-5-227.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 7, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

472
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Mar 7, 2025
D Democratic18
15 Yea 2 Nay 1
83% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
38
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (99-0-1)
house
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (47-2-1)
senate
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Judiciary
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jeremy Trebas
Jeremy Trebas
RRepublican
MT
10