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69th Legislature 2025 HB 221.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 221
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 221
2 INTRODUCED BY L. SCHUBERT, W. GALT, E. ALBUS, K. LOVE, R. GREGG, C. SCHOMER, T. MILLETT, E.
3 BUTTREY, C. HINKLE, G. HUNTER, R. MARSHALL, J. KASSMIER, D. LOGE, M. REGIER, B. LER, J.
4 SCHILLINGER, K. ZOLNIKOV, L. DEMING, B. BARKER, L. BREWSTER, N. DURAM, T. FALK, G. HERTZ, D.
5 LENZ, B. MERCER, B. MITCHELL, G. NIKOLAKAKOS, J. TREBAS, Z. WIRTH, S. MANESS, K. BOGNER, J.
6 HINKLE
7
8 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT MOVING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO EVEN-NUMBERED
9 YEARS; PROVIDING A TRANSITION FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICERS; AMENDING SECTION 13-1-104, MCA;
10 AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.”
11
12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
13
14 Section 13-1-104, MCA, is amended to read:
15 "13-1-104. (1) A general election must be held throughout the
16 state on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
17 (2) In every even-numbered year, the following elections must be held on general election day:
18 (a) an election on any ballot issue submitted to electors pursuant to Article III, section 6, unless the
19 legislature orders a special election, or Article XIV, section 8, of the Montana constitution;
20 (b) an election of federal officers, members of the legislature, state officers, multicounty district
21 officers elected at a statewide election, district court judges, and county officers; and
22 (c) an election of officers for municipalities required by law to hold the election; and
23 (c)(d) any other election required by law to be held on general election day in an even-numbered
24 year.
25 (3) In every odd-numbered year, the following elections must be held on the same day as the
26 general election:
27 (a) an election of officers for municipalities required by law to hold the election; and
28 (b) any other Only an election required by law to be held on general election day in an odd- ****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 221.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 221
1 numbered year may be held in an odd-numbered year."
2
3 NEW SECTION. Section 2. (1) For a municipal officer whose term of office ends in
4 January 2026, there must be an election in 2025 for a one-year term of office.
5 (2) For a municipal officer whose term of office ends in January 2028 or January 2030, there must
6 be a special election for a one-year term proceeding when their term of office is set to end. This special election
7 must take place during the preceding even-numbered year general election.
8
9 NEW SECTION. Section 3. [This act] does not affect rights and duties that matured,
10 penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before [the effective date of this act].
11
12 NEW SECTION. Section 4. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
13
14 NEW SECTION. Section 5. [This act] applies to all municipal elections scheduled on
15 or after [the effective date of this act].
16 - END -