Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick

Maddy summaryHB 856 would change Montana law to define when a state or local office becomes vacant due to an incumbent's absence. Specifically, it extends the period an officeholder must be absent without permission before the office is considered vacant - from 3 months to 34 consecutive months (as written in the bill text). This affects state legislators, county officials, and other elected or appointed officeholders who miss duties. The bill also includes a $100 appropriation for legislative services to monitor vacancies and applies retroactively to vacancies starting January 1, 2025. (Note: The bill failed its third reading and died in process on May 22, 2025.)

Maddy summaryThis Montana bill (HB 465) would have revised foreclosure rules for property liens by requiring contractors or service providers to file a specific "notice of action" within 90 days after a 2-year deadline for foreclosure lawsuits. If this notice wasn't filed, the lien would automatically expire, directly affecting contractors seeking payment and homeowners facing lien claims. The bill focused on clarifying procedural requirements for foreclosure actions under existing law (Section 71-3-562, MCA). It died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 871 aimed to prevent municipalities from requiring a zoning change, specifically from single-family to multi-family, for parcels of land located outside city limits to connect to municipal water or sewer systems. It would have amended existing law to explicitly prohibit this requirement. The bill also included a $1,000 appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality for updating related documents. This measure would have primarily affected property owners outside city boundaries seeking to access municipal utility services.

Maddy summaryHB 113 clarifies which personal items inside a towed or stored motor vehicle are exempt from being held as part of a towing and storage lien. The bill specifies that food and perishable goods are exempt only if they are consumer products not intended for resale. It also explicitly exempts prescription items, original identifying documents, financial instruments like cash or credit cards, certain personal and business records, and child safety items. This aims to provide clearer guidelines for tow truck operators and vehicle owners regarding property subject to or exempt from these liens.

Maddy summaryHB 954 extends the period during which Lake County can withdraw from enforcing state criminal jurisdiction within the Flathead Indian Reservation. Specifically, the bill changes the termination date for this arrangement from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2031. This amendment allows Lake County to continue its current approach to criminal jurisdiction on the reservation for an additional four years. The bill became effective immediately upon passage and approval.

Maddy summaryHB 685 establishes a "feasibility allowance" as part of the state's water quality nondegradation policy. This allows individuals or entities seeking to degrade high-quality state waters to request this allowance when working to meet water quality standards. The bill revises certain definitions, including expanding who is considered an "interested person" to include those requesting such an allowance. It also amends administrative rules and grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Environmental Quality to implement these new provisions, directly affecting industries and projects that impact state waters.

Maddy summaryHB 684 eliminates a specific deadline that previously required the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to review data used for water quality assessments. This bill amends Section 75-5-702, MCA, removing the requirement for the DEQ to complete these data reviews within a set timeframe. This change primarily affects the DEQ's operational procedures for monitoring state waters and assessing their quality, as well as individuals and entities who submit water quality data for review.

Maddy summaryHB 872 revises real estate appraiser licensing laws to clarify who can provide opinions or estimates of market value for real property transactions. It specifies that individuals who are not licensed or certified appraisers may provide such valuations for compensation, as long as the transaction is not federally related and they do not claim to be licensed. The bill maintains that misrepresenting oneself as a licensed or certified appraiser without the proper credentials is a misdemeanor. It also appropriates $1,000 to the Department of Labor and Industry for implementation, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 137 revises state securities laws by eliminating the fee distinction between in-state and out-of-state salespersons or investment adviser representatives. Currently, in-state individuals pay $50 for original registration, annual renewals, and transfers, while out-of-state individuals pay $100 for the same actions. This bill standardizes these fees, ensuring all salespersons and investment adviser representatives pay the same amount regardless of their in-state or out-of-state status. The changes take effect immediately upon passage and apply to registration fees paid on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 736 establishes a system for nutrient pollutant loading offsets for facilities holding water quality discharge permits. It allows these permitted dischargers to meet their nutrient discharge limits by reducing nutrient pollution from other sources within the same watershed, including both direct discharge points and diffuse sources. The bill specifies varying offset percentages based on the type and location of the pollution reduction. It directs the state's environmental department to establish statewide offset values for various nonpoint pollution reduction projects, such as riparian fencing or wetlands development, and to amend existing policies to implement these provisions.