Bill > SJ47

This joint resolution requests the Legislative Council to assign an interim committee or staff to conduct a comprehensive study of Montana's local government creation processes, focusing on reviewing existing statutory procedures for creating, altering, and abandoning local governments such as cities, towns, and counties. The study aims to examine the current incorporation requirements, which the resolution suggests may be outdated or overly complex, including specific concerns like population density requirements for new municipalities and voting procedures for county creation. The research will involve engaging stakeholders like the Montana League of Cities and Towns, the Montana Association of Counties, and the Montana State University Local Government Center to analyze the historical effectiveness of incorporation processes, identify potentially duplicative or contradictory statutory requirements, and determine whether existing regulations need modernization. The resolution mandates that the study be completed before September 15, 2026, with findings to be presented to and reviewed by an appropriate legislative committee, and ultimately reported to the 70th Legislature, with the ultimate goal of potentially improving Montana's local government formation mechanisms.

Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4138