Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB531: Revise laws related to legislative rules
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act providing that the legislature has the sole constitutional authority regarding rules that govern the legislature's proceedings; prohibiting the judicial branch from reviewing and interpreting legislative rules; providing a definition; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT PROVIDING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS THE SOLE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY REGARDING RULES THAT GOVERN THE LEGISLATURE'S PROCEEDINGS; PROHIBITING THE JUDICIAL BRANCH FROM REVIEWING AND INTERPRETING LEGISLATIVE RULES; PROVIDING A DEFINITION; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Sole constitutional authority by legislature on rules governing its proceedings -- judicial review and interpretation prohibited -- exception. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), pursuant to Article V, section 10(1), of the Montana constitution, the legislature possesses the sole power and discretion to make, enforce, interpret, suspend, repeal, or waive rules for its proceedings. (2) A judicial officer may not review and interpret a legislative rule unless the rule conflicts with the Montana constitution or the United States constitution. (3) For the purposes of this section, "judicial officer" has the same meaning as provided in 1-1202(2). Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 5, chapter 5, and the provisions of Title 5, chapter 5, apply to [section 1]. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval. - END - - 1 - Authorized Print Version - HB 531 ENROLLED BILL I hereby certify that the within bill, HB 531, originated in the House. ___________________________________________ Chief Clerk of the House ___________________________________________ Speaker of the House Signed this …
Sponsors
- Fitzpatrick, Steve (R, 24) · primary sponsor
- Usher, Barry (R, 19)
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
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 29 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 9, 2025): 29 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 7, 2025): 59 yea, 40 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 57 yea, 41 nay, passed
Subjects: Legislature
Common questions
- What is HB531?
- HB531 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise laws related to legislative rules.
- What does HB531 do?
- In its own words: An act providing that the legislature has the sole constitutional authority regarding rules that govern the legislature's proceedings; prohibiting the judicial branch from reviewing and interpreting legislative rules; providing a definition; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of HB531?
- Signed into law as of May 5, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 5, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB531?
- Fitzpatrick, Steve (R, 24), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB531?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0596
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.