Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB575: Generally revise the proceedings in which a public defender may be assigned
Status: Signed into law, May 19, 2025
What the bill says
An act generally revising the proceedings in which a public defender may be assigned; authorizing that a court may assign a public defender for a parent in a proceeding to involuntarily terminate the parent's parental rights; providing that a court may order assignment of a public defender to serve as a member of a treatment court team; amending section 47-1-104, mca; and providing an effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING THE PROCEEDINGS IN WHICH A PUBLIC DEFENDER MAY BE ASSIGNED; AUTHORIZING THAT A COURT MAY ASSIGN A PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR A PARENT IN A PROCEEDING TO INVOLUNTARILY TERMINATE THE PARENT'S PARENTAL RIGHTS; PROVIDING THAT A COURT MAY ORDER ASSIGNMENT OF A PUBLIC DEFENDER TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF A TREATMENT COURT TEAM; AMENDING SECTION 47-1-104, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Section 47-1-104, MCA, is amended to read: "47-1-104. (Temporary) Statewide system -- structure and scope of services -- assignment of counsel at public expense. (1) There is a statewide public defender system, which is required to deliver public defender services in all courts in this state. The system is supervised by the director. (2) The director shall approve a strategic plan for service delivery and divide the state into not more than 11 public defender regions. The director may establish a regional office to provide public defender services in each region, as provided in 47-1-215, establish a contracted services program to provide services in the region, or utilize other service delivery methods as appropriate and consistent with the purposes described in 47-1-102. (3) When a court orders the assignment of a public defender, the appropriate office shall immediately assign a public defender qualified to provide the required services. The director shall establish …
Sponsors
- Strand, Peter (D, 63) · primary sponsor
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) Returned to House
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 28, 2025): 25 yea, 24 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 25, 2025): 27 yea, 22 nay, passed
- Take HB 575 from Comm-Boldman (April 24, 2025): 27 yea, 23 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 1, 2025): 68 yea, 29 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 28, 2025): 56 yea, 42 nay, passed
Subjects: Criminal Procedure, Courts, State Government
Common questions
- What is HB575?
- HB575 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise the proceedings in which a public defender may be assigned.
- What does HB575 do?
- In its own words: An act generally revising the proceedings in which a public defender may be assigned; authorizing that a court may assign a public defender for a parent in a proceeding to involuntarily terminate the parent's parental rights; providing that a court may order assignment of a public defender to serve as a member of a treatment court team; amending section 47-1-104, mca; and providing an effective date.
- What is the status of HB575?
- Signed into law as of May 19, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 19, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB575?
- Strand, Peter (D, 63).
- Where is the official record for HB575?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1518
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.