Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HJ23: Interim study on youth court laws
Status: Passed one chamber, May 6, 2025
What the bill says
A joint resolution of the senate and the house of representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study to review, simplify, and streamline the montana youth court act; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 70th legislature.
From the engrossed text:
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY TO REVIEW, SIMPLIFY, AND STREAMLINE THE MONTANA YOUTH COURT ACT; AND REQUIRING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE REPORTED TO THE 70TH LEGISLATURE. WHEREAS, Article II, section 15, of the Montana Constitution provides that the rights of persons under 18 years of age must include all the fundamental rights of adults unless specifically precluded by laws that enhance the protections of these persons; and WHEREAS, when a youth commits an act that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult, the Montana Legislature has adopted the Montana Youth Court Act to address, adjudicate, and dispose of these issues; and WHEREAS, the Montana Youth Court Act provides in section 41-5-102, MCA, that the Act must be interpreted and construed to preserve unity and welfare with the family, reduce youth delinquency, provide consistent consequences for the youth's actions, and provide judicial hearings that ensure the parties a fair, accurate hearing and recognition of their constitutional and statutory rights; and WHEREAS, the Montana Youth Court Act has been repeatedly amended since its adoption in 1947; and WHEREAS, in the course of amending the Montana Youth Court Act over the decades, the text has become unwieldly and cluttered and now consists …
Sponsors
- Reavis, James (D, 47) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Filed with Secretary of State
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (S) Committee Report
Votes
- Do Concur (April 29, 2025): 34 yea, 16 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 28, 2025): 36 yea, 13 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 16, 2025): 74 yea, 24 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 15, 2025): 92 yea, 5 nay, passed
Subjects: Minors, Courts, Interim Study Resolutions
Common questions
- What is HJ23?
- HJ23 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Interim study on youth court laws.
- What does HJ23 do?
- In its own words: A joint resolution of the senate and the house of representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study to review, simplify, and streamline the montana youth court act; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 70th legislature.
- What is the status of HJ23?
- Passed one chamber as of May 6, 2025. Latest action: (H) Filed with Secretary of State (May 6, 2025).
- Who sponsored HJ23?
- Reavis, James (D, 47).
- Where is the official record for HJ23?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1587
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.