Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 707: Require Corrections to consider inmate family connections during placement

HB 707 requires the Department of Corrections to consider an inmate's attachment to family when making placements or transfers to correctional institutions located outside of the state. This aims to allow inmates to maintain connections with their families, affecting those in state prisons who are moved out-of-state. The bill mandates the department to assess the inmate's ability to maintain these attachments during such placements. It also integrates this new requirement into existing law governing contracts for inmate confinement, particularly when dealing with excessive inmate populations or a lack of adequate state facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires family connection consideration in inmate placement to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 296: Enhance penalty for crime against vulnerable person

SB 296, known as "Alan's Law," establishes an enhanced penalty for individuals who commit offenses against vulnerable persons while employed or volunteering in a caregiving facility. If found guilty of a misdemeanor or felony offense, offenders face an additional prison sentence of 1 to 10 years. This additional sentence runs consecutively to the original punishment and generally cannot be deferred or suspended. The bill defines "caregiving facilities" broadly to include various health, youth, and educational settings, and "vulnerable persons" as children, vulnerable adults, or incapacitated individuals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases mandatory consecutive sentences for crimes against vulnerable persons, expanding criminal penalties without rehabilitation focus, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 332: Generally revise youth court laws

HB 332 revises youth court laws by expanding the types of offenses for which youth may be tried directly in district court, rather than youth court. It specifies age thresholds for these offenses, which include serious crimes like homicide, sexual assault, and drug distribution. The bill allows a youth to waive the right to a transfer hearing, which determines if their case should move back to youth court. It also details the criteria for a district court to transfer a case back to youth court and outlines sentencing and detention procedures for youth prosecuted in the adult system.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMoves serious youth offenses to adult court, bypasses youth court protections, and eliminates transfer hearing waivers, reducing rehabilitative options for minors.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 521: Generally revise civil liability laws

HB 521 revises civil liability laws by establishing that a person convicted of a crime has no legal right to sue for injuries or other damages they sustained during the commission of that crime. This means individuals cannot recover damages through a civil lawsuit if their injuries occurred while they were actively committing a crime for which they were later convicted. The bill specifies that this new provision will be codified as part of Title 27, chapter 1, part 5 of the state's legal code.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticePrevents convicted criminals from suing for crime-related injuries, directly reducing defendant rights per bill's explicit language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 493: Establish the crime of possession of stolen firearm or ammunition

HB 493 establishes a new criminal offense for the purposeful and knowing possession, receipt, concealment, storage, sale, or disposal of a stolen firearm or stolen ammunition. Individuals convicted of possessing a stolen firearm may face imprisonment in state prison for up to 10 years. The bill also amends existing law to allow youths aged 16 or older accused of this new offense to be tried in adult court. Additionally, it includes possession of a stolen firearm or ammunition in the definition of offenses that can constitute a "pattern of criminal street gang activity."

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony with 10-year prison term for stolen firearm possession, expands criminalization, and allows 16+ youth to be tried as adults, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 503: Generally revise traffic laws regarding evading or fleeing a peace officer

HB 503 revises existing traffic laws concerning fleeing from or eluding a peace officer. It categorizes this offense into a misdemeanor, an aggravated felony, and a felony if serious bodily injury or death occurs. The bill defines aggravated fleeing to include factors such as previous convictions, reckless driving behavior, causing over $5,000 in property damage, or leaving the state. It establishes specific penalties, including varying terms of imprisonment and fines, for individuals convicted of each level of the offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for fleeing officers, categorizing it as felony with aggravated factors, expanding criminalization and mandatory sentencing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 415: Revise laws on a judge's ability to provide bail to certain defendants

HB 415 revises the laws concerning a judge's ability to admit defendants to bail. The bill specifically limits a judge's authority to grant or continue bail for individuals who have an active warrant from another jurisdiction. This means defendants with outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions will not be eligible for bail in the current proceeding.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts bail eligibility for defendants with active warrants, reducing defendant rights without reform intent.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 612: Generally revise criminal procedure laws

HB 612 revises criminal procedure laws concerning the revocation of suspended or deferred sentences, impacting offenders who violate their probation terms. The bill mandates that if a suspended or deferred sentence is revoked, any new sentence imposed will run consecutively to an existing sentence, unless the original sentence was already running concurrently. It also outlines procedures for revocation hearings, including offender rights and the prosecution's burden of proof. Additionally, the bill defines specific types of violations, such as "absconding" and "compliance violations," and applies these provisions to all offenders facing sentence revocation.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates consecutive sentencing for probation violations, increasing punishment severity. Opposes reform by making sentences harsher and reducing leniency for offenders.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 344: Revise criminal laws.

HB 344 establishes a new type of driving under the influence (DUI) offense. This offense applies to both noncommercial and commercial drivers found to have a specified amount of prohibited substances, other than alcohol or marijuana, in their blood or other bodily fluids while operating a vehicle. The bill amends existing laws regarding drug concentration standards, driver rehabilitation program eligibility, and penalties for driving with a suspended or revoked license to incorporate this new offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new DUI offense for drugs (non-alcohol/marijuana), expanding criminalization. This aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Montana · House Apr 25, 2025

HB 267: Revise DUI laws related to enacting Bobby's law

HB 267, also known as "Bobby's Law," creates the new crime of aggravated vehicular homicide while under the influence. This bill applies to individuals who negligently cause another person's death while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Upon conviction, offenders face mandatory imprisonment ranging from 3 to 30 years, a fine between $10,000 and $50,000, or both. A key provision is that the imposition of this sentence cannot be deferred, meaning it must be served immediately upon conviction. The bill also updates existing statutes to include this new offense as a "serious crime" and to reflect the non-deferrable sentencing.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates mandatory prison terms for DUI-related deaths, expanding criminalization and increasing sentencing severity95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice