Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB547: Revise firefighting laws for consolidated city-county governments
Status: Vetoed, May 13, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising laws related to fire protection in consolidated city-county governments; removing language for existing volunteer fire departments under the jurisdiction of a consolidated city-county government; clarifying that there must be a fire chief from the municipality of a consolidated city-county government that consolidated under option 1; and amending sections 7-33-2110 and 7-33-2316, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO FIRE PROTECTION IN CONSOLIDATED CITY-COUNTY GOVERNMENTS; REMOVING LANGUAGE FOR EXISTING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF A CONSOLIDATED CITY-COUNTY GOVERNMENT; CLARIFYING THAT THERE MUST BE A FIRE CHIEF FROM THE MUNICIPALITY OF A CONSOLIDATED CITY-COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT CONSOLIDATED UNDER OPTION 1; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 7-33-2110 AND 7-33-2316, MCA. Section 1. Fire department provisions. The fire department of the municipality must have a director of fire service or a fire chief, who shall manage and control the department in the manner prescribed by the ordinances of the municipality. Section 2. Section 7-33-2110, MCA, is amended to read: "7-33-2110. Volunteer fire districts or companies -- fire departments -- pension not affected by city-county consolidation. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the adoption of a city-county consolidated local government has no effect on the existence of a volunteer fire department, a volunteer fire company, or a fire district created and legally in existence pursuant to the provisions of this part unless otherwise specifically provided by charter. (2) A right or benefit of any member of a volunteer fire district, company, or department created pursuant to the provisions of this part in a retirement or pension plan or payments provided under Title 19, chapter 17, may not be abrogated by the adoption of a city-county consolidated …
Sponsors
- DeMarois, Scott (D, 71) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Vetoed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading Senate Amendments
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments
- : (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 16, 2025): 62 yea, 36 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 15, 2025): 72 yea, 25 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 32 yea, 16 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 9, 2025): 30 yea, 17 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 72 yea, 26 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 4, 2025): 75 yea, 24 nay, passed
Subjects: Cities and Towns, Counties, Fires and Fire Protection, Local Government
Common questions
- What is HB547?
- HB547 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise firefighting laws for consolidated city-county governments.
- What does HB547 do?
- In its own words: An act revising laws related to fire protection in consolidated city-county governments; removing language for existing volunteer fire departments under the jurisdiction of a consolidated city-county government; clarifying that there must be a fire chief from the municipality of a consolidated city-county government that consolidated under option 1; and amending sections 7-33-2110 and 7-33-2316, mca.
- What is the status of HB547?
- Vetoed as of May 13, 2025. Latest action: (H) Vetoed by Governor (May 13, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB547?
- DeMarois, Scott (D, 71).
- Where is the official record for HB547?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1839
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.