Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB478: Generally revise laws relating to volunteer church security teams
Status: Failed, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act allowing certain organizations to have volunteer security teams; providing qualifications for team members carrying arms; providing application and training processes for team members; providing eligibility for team members; providing immunity, justifying use of force, and providing certain exemptions for team members; and providing definitions.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ALLOWING CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE VOLUNTEER SECURITY TEAMS; PROVIDING QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEAM MEMBERS CARRYING ARMS; PROVIDING APPLICATION AND TRAINING PROCESSES FOR TEAM MEMBERS; PROVIDING ELIGIBILITY FOR TEAM MEMBERS; PROVIDING IMMUNITY, JUSTIFYING USE OF FORCE, AND PROVIDING CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS FOR TEAM MEMBERS; AND PROVIDING DEFINITIONS." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 and 2], unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following definitions apply: (1) "Concealed weapon" has the same meaning as provided in 45-8-315. (2) "Declared emergency" means a situation or circumstance declared by appointed security personnel to be unsafe endangerment to organization members or event attendees. The term includes a violent critical incident, an active shooter or active killer, and the need for physical removal of a person from the premises who is interrupting the peaceful process of the event. (3) "Event" includes but is not limited to a religious service, a festival, a recreation or sporting event, a community market, and other events hosted by an organization. (4) "Organization" means an entity or group of persons formed with the intent of reaching or - 1 - Authorized Print Version - HB **** 69th Legislature 2025 HB 478.1 hosting members of the general public for a common purpose. The term …
Sponsors
- Nicol, Nelly (R, 53) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : (H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (H) Take from Committee; Place on 2nd Reading
- : (H) Tabled in Committee
- : (H) Tabled in Committee
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
- : (H) Referred to Committee
- : (H) Introduced
- : (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
Votes
- Take HB 478 from JUH - Nicol (March 5, 2025): 39 yea, 59 nay, failed
Subjects: Liability, Law Enforcement, Religion
Common questions
- What is HB478?
- HB478 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise laws relating to volunteer church security teams.
- What does HB478 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act allowing certain organizations to have volunteer security teams; providing qualifications for team members carrying arms; providing application and training processes for team members; providing eligibility for team members; providing immunity, justifying use of force, and providing certain exemptions for team members; and providing definitions.".
- What is the status of HB478?
- Failed as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB478?
- Nicol, Nelly (R, 53).
- Where is the official record for HB478?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3075
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.