Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB295: Revise laws related to judicial transparency and elections
Status: Failed, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising laws related to judicial transparency in judicial elections; allowing judicial candidates to indicate a political party affiliation on a declaration for nomination and to have that affiliation appear on the ballot; allowing judicial candidates to announce political party affiliations and endorsements; amending sections 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, and 13-14115, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO JUDICIAL TRANSPARENCY IN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS; ALLOWING JUDICIAL CANDIDATES TO INDICATE A POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION ON A DECLARATION FOR NOMINATION AND TO HAVE THAT AFFILIATION APPEAR ON THE BALLOT; ALLOWING JUDICIAL CANDIDATES TO ANNOUNCE POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATIONS AND ENDORSEMENTS; AMENDING SECTIONS 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, AND 13-14115, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." WHEREAS, the purpose of this bill is to allow judicial candidates to state their political party affiliation, if desired, when filing for offices; and WHEREAS, allowing candidates to share party affiliations will give voters additional information about the people on the ballot. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Indication by judicial candidate of political party affiliation. A candidate for judicial office may indicate the candidate's political party affiliation on the candidate's declaration for nomination. NEW SECTION. Section 2. Announcement by judicial candidate of political party affiliation and endorsements. A candidate for judicial office may announce the candidate's political party affiliation or a campaign endorsement that the candidate has received. - 1 - Authorized Print Version - HB **** 69th Legislature 2025 HB 295.1 Section 3. Section 13-10-209, MCA, is amended to read: "13-10-209. Arrangement and preparing of primary ballots. (1) (a) Ballots for a primary election …
Sponsors
- Fielder, Paul (R, 14) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : (H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (H) Fiscal Note Printed
- : (H) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- : (H) 2nd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading Pass Consideration
- : (H) Committee Report
- : (H) Committee Executive Action
- : (H) Hearing
Votes
- Do Pass (February 27, 2025): 47 yea, 52 nay, failed
Subjects: Judges and Justices, Elections
Common questions
- What is HB295?
- HB295 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise laws related to judicial transparency and elections.
- What does HB295 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising laws related to judicial transparency in judicial elections; allowing judicial candidates to indicate a political party affiliation on a declaration for nomination and to have that affiliation appear on the ballot; allowing judicial candidates to announce political party affiliations and endorsements; amending sections 13-10-209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, and 13-14115, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.".
- What is the status of HB295?
- Failed as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB295?
- Fielder, Paul (R, 14).
- Where is the official record for HB295?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3030
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.