Bill > SB97

This bill revises Montana's venue laws for legal challenges to recently enacted statutes, establishing that the proper place of trial for actions challenging laws passed within the current two-year legislative biennium is in a county located within the legislative district of the bill's primary sponsor. Specifically, the bill defines a "challenge" as either pleading that a law is unconstitutional or seeking an injunction against its execution. The legislation amends several existing statutes to require that when a party challenges a recently enacted law, the venue must be changed to a county within the primary sponsor's legislative district. The bill also adds new provisions to existing venue laws, such as requiring a change of venue when a primary bill sponsor intervenes in a declaratory judgment action. These changes aim to provide a more localized and potentially more relevant judicial venue for constitutional challenges to new legislation, while preserving existing venue rules for other types of legal actions. The bill includes a saving clause ensuring that it does not affect legal rights, penalties, or proceedings that began before its effective date.

Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0045