Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB617: Provide for public input on certain decisions of the attorney general
Status: Failed, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing for citizen participation in furtherance of article ii, section 8, of the montana constitution when the attorney general seeks to engage in litigation in which the state may have an interest; providing notice when the attorney general intends to engage in litigation in which the state may have an interest; providing an exception; requiring a public hearing and public comment on the attorney general's intent to engage in litigation in which the state may have an interest…
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN FURTHERANCE OF ARTICLE II, SECTION 8, OF THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION WHEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SEEKS TO ENGAGE IN LITIGATION IN WHICH THE STATE MAY HAVE AN INTEREST; PROVIDING NOTICE WHEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL INTENDS TO ENGAGE IN LITIGATION IN WHICH THE STATE MAY HAVE AN INTEREST; PROVIDING AN EXCEPTION; REQUIRING A PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S INTENT TO ENGAGE IN LITIGATION IN WHICH THE STATE MAY HAVE AN INTEREST; REQUIRING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKE UNDER CONSIDERATION AND RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING; REQUIRING A PROJECTION OF LITIGATION COSTS AND REPORTING OF ACTUAL LITIGATION COSTS; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND AMENDING SECTION 2-15-501, MCA." WHEREAS, Article II, section 8, of the Montana Constitution provides that the "public has the right to expect governmental agencies to afford such reasonable opportunity for citizen participation in the operation of the agencies prior to the final decision as may be provided by law"; and WHEREAS, Article VI, section 4, of the Montana Constitution provides the Attorney General "shall have the duties and powers provided by law"; and WHEREAS, the Attorney General currently has broad authority to litigate matters in the name of the State of Montana in which the state has an interest pursuant to section 2-15-501, …
Sponsors
- Stafman, Ed (D, 59) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : (H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (H) Fiscal Note Printed
- : (H) Tabled in Committee
- : (H) Fiscal Note Received
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
- : (H) Referred to Committee
- : (H) Fiscal Note Requested
- : (H) Introduced
Subjects: Courts, Public Officers and Employees, State Government
Common questions
- What is HB617?
- HB617 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Provide for public input on certain decisions of the attorney general.
- What does HB617 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing for citizen participation in furtherance of article ii, section 8, of the montana constitution when the attorney general seeks to engage in litigation in which the state may have an interest; providing notice when the attorney general intends to engage in litigation in which the state may have an interest; providing an exception; requiring a public hearing and public comment on the attorney general's intent to engage in litigation in which the state may have an interest…
- What is the status of HB617?
- Failed as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB617?
- Stafman, Ed (D, 59).
- Where is the official record for HB617?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1401
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.