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Bill > HB838


MT HB838

MT HB838
Allow supreme court justices to use partisan affiliation


summary

Introduced
03/18/2025
In Committee
03/19/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/20/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO THE USE OF PARTY AFFILIATION FOR CERTAIN NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL RACES; ALLOWING CANDIDATES FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OR JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT TO INDICATE A POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION ON A DECLARATION FOR NOMINATION AND TO HAVE THAT AFFILIATION APPEAR ON THE PRIMARY AND GENERAL BALLOTS; ALLOWING CANDIDATES FOR CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OR JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT TO ANNOUNCE POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS ANDORSEMENTS; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AMING SECTIONS 13-10- 209, 13-10-602, 13-12-203, 13-14-112, 13-14-115, AND 13-14-212, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.”

AI Summary

This bill allows candidates for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court Justice in Montana to indicate their political party affiliation on nomination declarations and ballots, which is currently prohibited for these traditionally nonpartisan judicial races. Specifically, candidates can now list their political party affiliation (in no more than three words) on their declaration of nomination and have that affiliation appear on primary and general election ballots. If a candidate chooses not to indicate a party affiliation, their name will appear with the word "Nonpartisan". The bill also permits these judicial candidates to announce their political party affiliations and campaign endorsements. To implement these changes, the bill amends several existing election laws and appropriates $5,000 to the Secretary of State's office to update websites and computer programming related to judicial elections. The provisions will become effective July 1, 2025, and will apply to primary and general elections for Supreme Court positions held on or after January 1, 2026, effectively ending the longstanding tradition of judicial candidate nonpartisanship in Montana.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

(H) Died in Process (on 05/20/2025)

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