**** 69th Legislature 2025 HB 548.1 - 1 - Authorized Print Version β HB 548 1 HOUSE BILL NO. 548 2 INTRODUCED BY A. NICASTRO 3 4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: βAN ACT PROVIDING THAT THE COURT MUST CONSIDER CERTAIN 5 FACTORS WHEN ALLOWING AN EXPERT WITNESS TO TESTIFY.β 6 7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: 8 9 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Before an expert witness may testify under 10 Rule 702 of the Montana Rules of Evidence, the court shall determine the following factors: 11 (1) if the expert's scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to 12 understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue; 13 (2) if the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data; 14 (3) if the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and 15 (4) if the expert's opinion reflects a reliable application of the principles and methods to the facts of 16 the case. 17 18 NEW SECTION. Section 2. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an 19 integral part of Title 26, chapter 1, part 1, and the provisions of Title 26, chapter 1, part 1, apply to [section 1]. 20 - END -