Criminal Justice

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 921: Constitutional amendment prohibiting distribution or receipt of child pornography

HB 921 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Montana to prohibit and punish the distribution or receipt of child pornography violating federal laws, while creating a private right for individuals to sue violators. It directly affects Montana state and local governments (who could enforce these prohibitions) and any person harmed by such violations (who could file lawsuits). Key provisions include overriding conflicting state laws to enable state enforcement of federal child pornography statutes and granting courts authority to award injunctive relief and attorney fees in successful lawsuits. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election and would not change existing federal laws, merely enabling Montana to align its enforcement with federal standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens enforcement of child pornography laws via state action and private lawsuits, directly enhancing criminal justice protections for minors.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 289: Revise crime laws

HB 289 aimed to revise Montana's crime laws by expanding the definition of the offense of endangering the welfare of children. The bill sought to include situations where a child is exposed to the production, manufacture, or direct presence of fentanyl, heroin, or cocaine. This would apply to individuals who knowingly engage in these activities in locations where children might reasonably be present. Violations under this specific provision would be classified as a felony, carrying potential penalties of imprisonment, fines, or both.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying drug exposure near children as felony, increasing penalties under crime laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 116: Provide for attorneys to appear remotely

HB 116 aimed to allow attorneys, particularly public defenders, to appear remotely in court proceedings. The bill would have required all courts to establish a consistent process for these remote appearances. Public defenders would have been permitted to appear remotely for "nonsubstantive hearings," such as arraignments or bond hearings, where the case's final outcome isn't decided. However, a court could still order an attorney to appear in person if there was "good cause," such as a lack of technological resources, and provided advance notice.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables public defenders to appear remotely for nonsubstantive hearings, improving access to legal representation without restricting rights, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 691: Provide for legislative intent regarding the Montana criminal justice data warehouse

HB 691 clarifies the purpose and requirements for Montana's existing criminal justice data warehouse, which collects and stores information from state and local agencies. The bill specifies that the warehouse must include detailed offender data - such as complete criminal histories, sentencing timelines, drug involvement in offenses, and pretrial release outcomes - to help officials make data-driven decisions about the justice system. State agencies, courts, and other entities are required to contribute data to the warehouse while retaining ownership of their information, with strict confidentiality protections outlined. This bill directly affects law enforcement, courts, and correctional agencies by standardizing how they share and use criminal justice data.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates detailed data collection in criminal justice warehouse for data-driven decisions, aligning with reform indicators like improved oversight and evidence-based policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 609: Establish criminal offense of abortion trafficking

HB 609 sought to establish the criminal offense of "abortion trafficking." It would prohibit any person from purposely or knowingly transporting an unborn child from Montana, either within or outside the state, to obtain an abortion that is illegal under Montana law. Individuals convicted of this offense could face fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. The bill also included a provision allowing penalties to be imposed against the mother of an unborn child for violating this specific trafficking offense, which is an exception to general prohibitions against penalizing women for abortion-related acts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense for abortion-related transport, increasing penalties under criminal law.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access by criminalizing transportation for illegal abortions, directly limiting a healthcare service under Montana law.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 287: Generally revise laws related to dangerous drugs

HB 287 proposes to revise laws concerning dangerous drugs, primarily by introducing enhanced penalties. It establishes additional prison sentences for individuals who knowingly possess or use a firearm while committing offenses related to the criminal distribution or possession with intent to distribute dangerous drugs. The bill also sets specific, stricter penalties for the distribution or possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and similar substances, including mandatory minimum prison terms for certain quantities. Additionally, it clarifies that fines can be imposed alongside imprisonment for criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases mandatory sentences and penalties for drug offenses, expanding criminalization and restricting defendant rights per indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 577: Providing that the highway patrol chief serves at the pleasure of the AG

HB 577 proposes a change to the appointment and tenure of the state Highway Patrol Chief. Currently, the Chief holds office until termination for cause. This bill would amend existing law to state that the Highway Patrol Chief would instead "serve at the pleasure of the attorney general." This means the Attorney General could remove the Chief without needing to show cause, and this change would apply to any new appointments made on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill allows AG to remove Highway Patrol Chief without cause, weakening independent law enforcement oversight.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 460: Amending the constitution to provide for electors of a county to call a grand jury

HB 460 proposed a constitutional amendment in Montana to allow citizens in any county to call for a grand jury. Currently, grand juries are impaneled at the discretion of a district judge. The bill would have required a grand jury to be summoned if a petition signed by a specific percentage of registered electors in a county was submitted. It also mandated that county attorneys prosecute indictments from these citizen-initiated grand juries and allowed the grand jury to seek assistance from the Attorney General or hire a private prosecutor if necessary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases public oversight by enabling citizen petitions to initiate grand juries, promoting transparency in court processes - a key aspect of criminal justice reform.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 433: Preserve right to keep and bear arms via a presumption of innocence

HB 433 sought to protect an individual's right to keep and bear arms while awaiting trial. The bill proposed that a person could not be deprived of their Second Amendment or Montana constitutional firearm rights before a conviction. This protection would apply unless the individual was charged with a forcible felony or a crime of violence involving a weapon, as defined in statute 45-2-101. The bill aimed to preserve these rights during the pre-trial phase for most offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePreserves defendant's firearm rights pre-conviction, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice proceedings95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 452: Generally revise penalties for assaults against utility workers

HB 452 creates a new specific criminal offense for assaulting an employee of a public utility. The bill defines different levels of assault, including causing bodily injury, causing serious bodily injury, or creating reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury with a weapon. It establishes distinct penalties for these offenses, which include imprisonment terms ranging from 8 to 20 years and fines up to $50,000, depending on the severity of the assault. This legislation aims to provide specific legal consequences for acts of violence against individuals working for public utilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new offense for assaulting utility workers with increased penalties (8-20 yrs, $50k fines), expanding criminalization and increasing mandatory sentences.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects utility workers from assault via enhanced criminal penalties, directly strengthening workplace safety protections for employees.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track