Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HJ26: Study guardianships and conservatorships
Status: Vetoed, 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 of guardianship issues; 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 OF GUARDIANSHIP ISSUES; AND REQUIRING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE REPORTED TO THE 70TH LEGISLATURE. WHEREAS, Montana has established a system of guardianships and conservatorships to protect people and their property when they cannot protect themselves; and WHEREAS, court-appointed guardians and conservators are often untrained and lack experience to perform their duties; and WHEREAS, there have even been cases of experienced conservators committing acts of malfeasance; and WHEREAS, the system established in Montana to protect people who need protection is often not protecting them; and WHEREAS, Oregon has a Conservatorship Audit Program housed in the Attorney General's Office to assist courts to understand and assess guardianship and conservatorship case filings; and WHEREAS, in 2011, Minnesota established a Conservator Account Auditing Program in the Judicial Branch to improve conservatorship oversight and reduce administrative costs; and WHEREAS, several states provide licensing or certification and training of guardians and conservators. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee or statutory committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, to study guardianship issues in Montana, including but not limited to training, …
Sponsors
- Close, Brian (D, 65) · 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) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 30, 2025): 29 yea, 21 nay, passed
- ReconsAction -Smith (April 29, 2025): 28 yea, 21 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 29, 2025): 24 yea, 26 nay, failed
- Do Concur (April 28, 2025): 26 yea, 23 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 17, 2025): 70 yea, 29 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 16, 2025): 71 yea, 27 nay, passed
Subjects: Judges and Justices, Minors, Courts, Family Law, Interim Study Resolutions, Senior Citizens
Common questions
- What is HJ26?
- HJ26 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Study guardianships and conservatorships.
- What does HJ26 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 of guardianship issues; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 70th legislature.
- What is the status of HJ26?
- Vetoed as of May 6, 2025. Latest action: (H) Filed with Secretary of State (May 6, 2025).
- Who sponsored HJ26?
- Close, Brian (D, 65).
- Where is the official record for HJ26?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3181
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.