Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB821: Revise vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative
Status: Failed, May 22, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act submitting to the qualified electors of montana an amendment to article xiv, section 9, of the montana constitution to raise the number of electors needed to approve an amendment to the constitution made by initiative.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONTANA AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XIV, SECTION 9, OF THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION TO RAISE THE NUMBER OF ELECTORS NEEDED TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION MADE BY INITIATIVE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: Section 1. Article XIV, section 9, of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended to read: "Section 9. Amendment by initiative. (1) The people may also propose constitutional amendments by initiative. Petitions including the full text of the proposed amendment shall be signed by at least ten percent of the qualified electors of the state. That number shall include at least ten percent of the qualified electors in each of two-fifths of the legislative districts. (2) The petitions shall be filed with the secretary of state. If the petitions are found to have been signed by the required number of electors, the secretary of state shall cause the amendment to be published as provided by law twice each month for two months previous to the next regular state-wide election. (3) At that election, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors for approval or rejection. If approved by a majority three-fifths of the electors voting thereon, it shall become a part of …
Sponsors
- Etchart, Jodee (R, 51) · primary sponsor
- Manzella, Theresa (R, 44)
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : (S) 3rd Reading; 2nd Chamber Vote Required
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (S) Committee Report
- : (S) Committee Executive Action
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Referred to Committee
- : (S) 1st Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 28, 2025): 30 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 25, 2025): 29 yea, 20 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 5, 2025): 56 yea, 42 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 4, 2025): 57 yea, 42 nay, passed
Subjects: Constitutional Amendment Proposals, Elections
Common questions
- What is HB821?
- HB821 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative.
- What does HB821 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act submitting to the qualified electors of montana an amendment to article xiv, section 9, of the montana constitution to raise the number of electors needed to approve an amendment to the constitution made by initiative.".
- What is the status of HB821?
- Failed as of May 22, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 22, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB821?
- Etchart, Jodee (R, 51), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB821?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4034
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.