Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB207: Revise candidate filing and write-in candidate laws
Status: Signed into law, May 16, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising candidate filing laws; requiring candidates for local and state office to file for office prior to the primary election; prohibiting unsuccessful primary candidates from seeking nomination in the general election; increasing decreasing the signature percentage required for a third-party or independent candidate petition; amending sections 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 1310-502, and 13-10-503, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.".
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING CANDIDATE FILING LAWS; REQUIRING CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL AND STATE OFFICE TO FILE FOR OFFICE PRIOR TO THE PRIMARY ELECTION; PROHIBITING UNSUCCESSFUL PRIMARY CANDIDATES FROM SEEKING NOMINATION IN THE GENERAL ELECTION; INCREASING DECREASING THE SIGNATURE PERCENTAGE REQUIRED FOR A THIRD-PARTY OR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE PETITION; AMENDING SECTIONS 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 1310-502, AND 13-10-503, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." Section 1. Section 13-1-403, MCA, is amended to read: "13-1-403. Election deadlines for candidate filing, write-in candidacy, and withdrawal -- election cancellation -- election by acclamation. (1) Consistent with the candidate filing deadline in 13-10-201(7) for primary elections and except as provided in subsection (2) for a write-in candidate, the candidate filing deadline for election to a local government office is no sooner than 145 105 days and no later than 85 90 days before the election. (2) (a) A declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate must be filed with the election administrator by 5 p.m. on the 65th 90th day before the date of the election. (b) An unsuccessful candidate for office at a primary election may not seek nomination by write-in vote or petition for the same office at the general election. (3) Consistent with the withdrawal deadline in 13-10-325 for primary elections, a candidate may not withdraw after the candidate filing deadline …
Sponsors
- Etchart, Jodee (R, 51) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading Senate Amendments
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments
Votes
- Do Concur (April 17, 2025): 63 yea, 36 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 16, 2025): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 11, 2025): 43 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 45 yea, 3 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 10, 2025): 59 yea, 41 nay, passed
- Do Pass As Amended (February 6, 2025): 58 yea, 41 nay, passed
Subjects: Elections
Common questions
- What is HB207?
- HB207 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise candidate filing and write-in candidate laws.
- What does HB207 do?
- In its own words: An act revising candidate filing laws; requiring candidates for local and state office to file for office prior to the primary election; prohibiting unsuccessful primary candidates from seeking nomination in the general election; increasing decreasing the signature percentage required for a third-party or independent candidate petition; amending sections 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 1310-502, and 13-10-503, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.".
- What is the status of HB207?
- Signed into law as of May 16, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 16, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB207?
- Etchart, Jodee (R, 51).
- Where is the official record for HB207?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1223
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.