Transportation

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 23, 2025

LC 3293: Revise laws for agricultural vehicles on the highway

This bill updates Montana laws to improve safety around slow-moving agricultural vehicles on highways. It requires drivers to slow down when approaching these vehicles, matching their speed when traveling in the same direction or reducing speed to half the posted limit when traveling in opposite directions. The legislation also mandates that agricultural vehicle operators pull off the road or onto the shoulder if traffic backs up behind them, allowing following vehicles to pass safely. The law defines agricultural vehicles to include tractors, farm equipment, self-propelled units, tractor combinations, and vehicles hauling hay or straw.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by updating regulations for agricultural vehicles on highways, requiring speed adjustments and safe passing procedures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 163: Revise urban transportation district laws

This bill updates Montana's laws governing urban transportation districts by clarifying how district boards are selected and how property can be added or removed from these districts. It requires local governments to decide whether transportation board members are elected or appointed, and if elected, establishes rules for holding public elections and filling vacancies. The bill also prohibits local governments from forcing property owners to add their land to a district as a condition of development, requires districts to maintain clear maps showing district boundaries, and allows areas that have not received direct transportation service for five years to be removed from the district without being held responsible for the district's existing debt.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill clarifies urban transportation district laws and election processes, strengthening local governance of transportation infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Transportation Funding

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 1517: Revise laws related to highway reconstruction

This bill updates Montana laws governing the documentation required when the state plans to build or reconstruct highways. It requires the Department of Transportation to file detailed right-of-way plans that identify property boundaries, owner names, and parcel numbers for any land affected by the project. The bill also prevents property owners from receiving compensation for improvements made to land after the plan is filed, unless those improvements are crops or similar agricultural items. Additionally, the plan becomes invalid one year after filing if the state does not begin the process of acquiring the property. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill clarifies highway reconstruction documentation and protects property rights, strengthening transportation infrastructure planning and reducing legal disputes during road projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 13, 2025

LC 2284: Require seat belts on newly purchased school buses

This bill requires school buses purchased in Montana on or after January 1, 2026, to be equipped with lap-shoulder belts for all passengers. School districts must create and enforce policies requiring belt use and maintain the equipment in working order. The legislation also provides liability protections for districts and drivers if students are injured due to not wearing belts or because another student used a belt improperly, while still allowing claims if a belt is broken or poorly maintained. Districts may request an exemption from the belt requirement if they determine their budget cannot cover the cost of new buses with lap-shoulder belts, subject to a public vote. The bill also updates definitions for school bus capacity and registration fee structures related to buses with lap-shoulder belts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances student safety on school buses, protecting students and reducing liability risks for districts, which supports educational infrastructure and student welfare.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by requiring seat belts on school buses, protecting passengers and improving overall transit safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Public Transit Vehicle Registration

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 3696: Revise distribution of revenue for local government roads

This bill revises how Montana distributes state revenue for local road construction and maintenance among counties, cities, towns, and consolidated city-county governments. The key change is adding a new factor that allocates 25% of county funds and 20% of city/town funds based on daily vehicle miles traveled, while adjusting existing population and mileage-based formulas. Funds must be used for building, repairing, or maintaining rural roads and city streets, with specific rules for how consolidated city-county governments receive their share and how towns can use up to 25% of their allocation for equipment and supplies. The bill also clarifies how population and mileage data are calculated for distribution purposes and requires contracts over certain thresholds to follow standard bidding procedures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill revises revenue distribution to fund local road construction and maintenance, increasing funding for essential public infrastructure services.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill revises revenue distribution to fund local road construction and maintenance, directly supporting transportation infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 5, 2025

LC 2285: Increase on-schedule reimbursement rates for school transportation

This bill increases the state reimbursement rates that school districts receive for on-schedule transportation services, directly affecting Montana school districts that operate bus routes. The key provision raises mileage reimbursement rates based on the size of the school bus, with larger buses receiving higher per-mile payments ranging from 85 cents to 299 cents. The changes apply to school fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, and include adjustments for nonbus mileage when drivers travel to overnight locations more than 10 miles from school.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state reimbursement rates for school transportation, directly funding essential public services and strengthening school district budgets.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases state reimbursement rates for school transportation, directly funding school districts and improving operational capacity for K-12 education.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases reimbursement rates for school transportation, directly funding and strengthening school bus services and transportation infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Transportation Public Transit

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 4174: Revise aeronautics laws related to the use of ADS–B information

This bill prohibits any entity, including government agencies and private companies, from using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data to calculate or collect fees from aircraft owners or operators flying within Montana. The law specifically applies to aircraft weighing 9,000 pounds or less that operate under standard general aviation regulations. ADS-B is an aviation technology that shares real-time information like location, altitude, and speed between aircraft and ground stations. The bill defines ADS-B as a two-part system, including ADS-B In and ADS-B Out, which provides data such as GPS location and weather information. This legislation aims to prevent the use of this surveillance data for billing purposes while establishing clear definitions for the technology involved.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill protects general aviation operators from excessive fees using ADS-B data, enhancing aviation safety and reducing regulatory burdens on smaller aircraft.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Airports

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 21, 2025

LC 1255: Require suspension of a driver's license if driving without insurance

This bill requires the Montana Department of Transportation to automatically suspend a driver's license or driving privilege for anyone caught driving without valid auto insurance. The law mandates a six-month suspension for a first offense, one year for a second offense, and one year for a third or subsequent offense within the specified time period. The bill also outlines conditions for restoring driving privileges, including completing chemical dependency treatment if required, and allows for probationary licenses only after meeting specific court and program requirements.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by requiring insurance and imposing license suspensions for uninsured drivers, protecting public transit and road safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Vehicle Registration

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2110: Revise laws related to metropolitan planning orgs and transportation planning

This bill, known as Noah's Act, streamlines transportation planning in Montana by reducing redundant reviews for projects approved by metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). It directly affects MPOs, local governments, and state transportation agencies by allowing department administrators to approve certain urban street and safety improvement projects without requiring additional review from the Transportation Commission. The key provision states that projects implementing previously approved long-range transportation plans do not need further commission review, while department administrators gain authority to approve smaller-scale projects in areas without MPOs. The legislation also amends existing state laws to clarify how priorities are set and contracts are let for highway construction, ensuring compliance with federal and state standards while eliminating duplicative oversight.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill streamlines transportation planning and reduces redundant reviews for approved projects, enhancing efficiency in transportation infrastructure development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 17, 2025

LC 4341: Generally revise accessibility laws related to trails/roads

This bill revises Montana's recreational trail and road access laws to create a special pass for individuals who cannot walk or traverse paths safely without assistance. It requires the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to categorize all public trails into three classes based on accessibility for motorized wheelchairs and establishes a $5 nontransferable recreation pass for people with permanent physical or mental disabilities who use motorized equipment. The pass allows unlimited use of state recreational trails and roads where motorized equipment is permitted, with fees deposited into a dedicated account and application requiring physician certification of nonambulatory status. The bill also sets specific penalties for violations, including fines for failing to display the pass or making false statements during application.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill improves accessibility of trails and roads for disabled individuals, enhancing transportation infrastructure and safety for vulnerable users.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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