Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB838: Allow supreme court justices to use partisan affiliation
Status: Failed, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising laws related to the use of party affiliation for certain nonpartisan judicial races; allowing candidates for chief justice of the supreme court or justice of the supreme court to indicate a political party affiliation on a declaration for nomination and to have that affiliation appear on the primary and general ballots; allowing candidates for chief justice of the supreme court or justice of the supreme court to announce political affiliations and endorsements; providing an appropriation…
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO THE USE OF PARTY AFFILIATION FOR CERTAIN NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL RACES; ALLOWING CANDIDATES FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OR JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT TO INDICATE A POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION ON A DECLARATION FOR NOMINATION AND TO HAVE THAT AFFILIATION APPEAR ON THE PRIMARY AND GENERAL BALLOTS; ALLOWING CANDIDATES FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OR JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT TO ANNOUNCE POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS AND ENDORSEMENTS; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AMENDING SECTIONS 13-10209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115, AND 13-14-212, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Indication of political party affiliation by candidate for chief justice or supreme court justice. A candidate for the office of chief justice of the supreme court or the office of justice of the supreme court may indicate the candidate's political party affiliation on the candidate's declaration for nomination. NEW SECTION. Section 2. Announcement of political party affiliation or endorsement by candidate for chief justice or supreme court justice. A candidate for the office of chief justice of the supreme court or the office of justice of the supreme court may announce the candidate's political party affiliation or a campaign endorsement that the …
Sponsors
- Ler, Brandon (R, 33) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : (H) Missed Deadline for Appropriation Bill Transmittal
- : (H) 2nd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (H) Committee Report
- : (H) Committee Executive Action
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
- : (H) Referred to Committee
- : (H) Introduced
Votes
- Do Pass (April 7, 2025): 46 yea, 54 nay, failed
Subjects: Judges and Justices, Appropriations, Elections
Common questions
- What is HB838?
- HB838 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Allow supreme court justices to use partisan affiliation.
- What does HB838 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising laws related to the use of party affiliation for certain nonpartisan judicial races; allowing candidates for chief justice of the supreme court or justice of the supreme court to indicate a political party affiliation on a declaration for nomination and to have that affiliation appear on the primary and general ballots; allowing candidates for chief justice of the supreme court or justice of the supreme court to announce political affiliations and endorsements; providing an appropriation…
- What is the status of HB838?
- Failed as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB838?
- Ler, Brandon (R, 33).
- Where is the official record for HB838?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2372
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.