- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB0284.2
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 284
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 284
2 INTRODUCED BY C. HINKLE, L. SCHUBERT, K. ZOLNIKOV, B. MITCHELL, K. SEEKINS-CROWE
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT CREATING A MONTANA UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATION
5 COMMITTEE; PROVIDING DUTIES AND MEMBERS; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; PROVIDING FOR
6 CONTINGENT VOIDNESS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE.”
7
8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
9
10 NEW SECTION. Section 1.
11 (1) (a) There is a committee to investigate civil rights violations and acts of censorship committed
12 by the Montana university system. The committee shall gather testimony on the record from Montana students
13 on any civil rights violations or acts of censorship that the students have experienced or witnessed at Montana
14 public universities and colleges and make findings and recommendations for state and federal officials.
15 (b) The committee shall report in physical and electronic copy all findings and recommendations to
16 the president of the United States, the United States department of justice, the United States department of
17 education, the leadership of both houses of the United States congress, all members of the Montana
18 congressional delegation, the governor of Montana, the Montana department of justice, the office of public
19 instruction, the speaker of the Montana house of representatives, and the president of the Montana senate.
20 (2) The committee consists of six EIGHT legislators appointed as follows:
21 (a) three members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house.,
22 One of the members TWO OF WHOM must be a member MEMBERS of the minority party and be appointed after
23 consultation with the minority leader. ;
24 (b) three members of the senate appointed by the committee on committees., One of the
25 members must be a member of the minority party.
26 (3) The appointments must be made within 30 days of [the effective date of this act]. A vacancy on
27 the committee must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
28 (4) The committee shall elect a presiding officer and a vice presiding officer. - 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB0284.2
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 284
1 (5) A committee member is entitled to salary and expenses as provided in 5-2-302.
2 (6) The committee may not meet more than three times and shall complete its work by September
3 15, 2026.
4 (7) The legislative services division shall provide staff assistance to the committee.
5
6 NEW SECTION. Section 2. There is appropriated $13,500 $23,000 from the general
7 fund to the legislative services division for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, for the purpose of reimbursing
8 committee members as provided in [section 1].
9
10 NEW SECTION. Section 3. (1) Pursuant to Joint Rule 40-65, if [this act] does
11 not include an appropriation prior to being transmitted to the governor, then [this act] is void.
12 (2) If the appropriation in [section 2] is vetoed, then [this act] is void.
13
14 NEW SECTION. Section 4. [This act] is effective July 1, 2025.
15
16 NEW SECTION. Section 5. [This act] terminates December 31, 2026.
17 - END -