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69th Legislature 2025 HB 739.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 739
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 739
2 INTRODUCED BY E. BYRNE, B. MITCHELL
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING LAWS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES;
5 REQUIRING MOTOR VEHICLES TO SLOW DOWN WHEN APPROACHING AN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE;
6 REQUIRING AN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE TO MOVE OVER WHEN SAFE TO ALLOW VEHICLES TO
7 PASS; AND PROVIDING A DEFINITION.”
8
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
10
11 NEW SECTION. Section 1.
12 (1) The operator of a moving vehicle when approaching an agricultural vehicle that is traveling in the same
13 direction:
14 (a) shall cautiously and carefully reduce the vehicle's speed to the speed of the agricultural
15 vehicle; and
16 (b) may pass the agricultural vehicle when it is safe to do so.
17 (2) The operator of a moving vehicle when approaching an agricultural vehicle traveling in a
18 different direction shall cautiously and carefully reduce the vehicle's speed to a speed that is one-half the speed
19 of the posted speed limit. If there are multiple lanes of traffic that the operator of a moving vehicle subject to this
20 subsection (2) may be traveling in, the operator shall move out of the lane closest to the center line when it is
21 safe to do so.
22 (3) The operator of an agricultural vehicle behind which a line of vehicles has formed shall turn off
23 the roadway at the nearest area where a sufficient and safe turnout exists in order to permit the vehicles
24 following it to proceed. If the shoulder of the highway to the right of the slow-moving vehicle is wide enough and
25 is in a condition that allows safe travel, the operator of the slow-moving vehicle may drive onto the shoulder and
26 proceed at a safe speed until the other vehicles have passed.
27 (4) As used in this section, "agricultural vehicle" means:
28 (a) a farm tractor as defined in 61-9-102; ****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 739.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 739
1 (b) an implement of husbandry as defined in 61-1-101;
2 (c) a self-propelled farm equipment unit;
3 (d) a combination of farm tractor and towed unit of farm equipment or implement of husbandry; or
4 (e) a vehicle used for hauling hay, straw, or both.
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6 NEW SECTION. Section 2. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
7 integral part of Title 61, chapter 8, part 3, and the provisions of Title 61, chapter 8, part 3, apply to [section 1].
8 - END -