Senate Bill 93 proposes significant amendments to the procedures and requirements for initiating and managing statewide ballot issues in Montana. Key changes include the replacement of the term "constitutional amendment" with "constitutional initiative" and the introduction of a requirement for the attorney general to evaluate whether a proposed ballot issue may cause significant material harm to business interests in Montana, necessitating a warning on the petition form if such harm is determined. The bill also clarifies the definition of "appropriation" in relation to statutory initiatives, establishes stricter guidelines for signature verification, and prohibits physical intimidation of signature gatherers. Additionally, it mandates the preparation of a voter information pamphlet by the secretary of state, detailing each statewide ballot issue, and allows for contestation of ballot issue certifications in district court under certain circumstances.

The bill further streamlines the submission and processing of arguments for and against statewide ballot issues by requiring that these arguments be submitted by appointed committees, which must include a senator, a representative, and an additional individual. It establishes new timelines for submission, a filing fee, and penalties for filing substantially similar ballot issues that were defeated in the past four years. The bill also emphasizes compliance with reporting requirements for candidates and ballot committees, stating that a statewide initiative cannot appear on the ballot if the treasurer for the supporting committee fails to file necessary reports. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of the electoral process regarding statewide ballot issues in Montana.

Statutes affected:
SB0093_1.pdf: 5-5-215, 5-11-105, 7-5-132, 7-7-2224, 7-14-204, 13-27-102, 13-27-103, 13-27-105, 13-27-112, 13-27-201, 13-27-204, 13-27-205, 13-27-206, 13-27-207, 13-27-208, 13-27-209, 13-27-210, 13-27-211, 13-27-301, 13-27-303, 13-27-304, 13-27-308, 13-27-311, 13-27-316, 13-27-317, 13-27-401, 13-27-402, 13-27-403, 13-27-406, 13-27-407, 13-27-409, 13-27-410, 13-27-501, 13-27-502, 13-27-503, 13-27-504
SB0093_2.pdf: 5-5-215, 5-11-105, 7-5-132, 7-7-2224, 7-14-204, 13-27-102, 13-27-103, 13-27-105, 13-27-112, 13-27-201, 13-27-204, 13-27-205, 13-27-206, 13-27-207, 13-27-208, 13-27-209, 13-27-210, 13-27-211, 13-27-301, 13-27-303, 13-27-304, 13-27-308, 13-27-311, 13-27-316, 13-27-317, 13-27-401, 13-27-402, 13-27-403, 13-27-406, 13-27-407, 13-27-409, 13-27-410, 13-27-501, 13-27-502, 13-27-503, 13-27-504
SB0093_3.pdf: 5-5-215, 5-11-105, 7-5-132, 7-7-2224, 7-14-204, 13-27-102, 13-27-103, 13-27-105, 13-27-112, 13-27-201, 13-27-204, 13-27-205, 13-27-206, 13-27-207, 13-27-208, 13-27-209, 13-27-210, 13-27-211, 13-27-301, 13-27-303, 13-27-304, 13-27-308, 13-27-311, 13-27-316, 13-27-317, 13-27-401, 13-27-402, 13-27-403, 13-27-406, 13-27-407, 13-27-409, 13-27-410, 13-27-501, 13-27-502, 13-27-503, 13-27-504
SB0093_X.pdf: 13-27-209, 13-27-210, 13-27-211, 13-27-301, 13-27-303, 13-27-304, 13-27-308, 13-27-311, 13-27-316, 13-27-317, 13-27-401, 13-27-402, 13-27-403, 13-27-406, 13-27-407, 13-27-409, 13-27-410, 13-27-501, 13-27-502, 13-27-503, 13-27-504, 13-37-126, 13-37-201, 13-37-228, 30-18-103
Enrolled: 13-27-209, 13-27-210, 13-27-211, 13-27-301, 13-27-303, 13-27-304, 13-27-308, 13-27-311, 13-27-316, 13-27-317, 13-27-401, 13-27-402, 13-27-403, 13-27-406, 13-27-407, 13-27-409, 13-27-410, 13-27-501, 13-27-502, 13-27-503, 13-27-504, 13-37-126, 13-37-201, 13-37-228, 30-18-103
Amended: 5-5-215, 5-11-105, 7-5-132, 7-7-2224, 7-14-204, 13-27-102, 13-27-103, 13-27-105, 13-27-112, 13-27-201, 13-27-204, 13-27-205, 13-27-206, 13-27-207, 13-27-208, 13-27-209, 13-27-210, 13-27-211, 13-27-301, 13-27-303, 13-27-304, 13-27-308, 13-27-311, 13-27-316, 13-27-317, 13-27-401, 13-27-402, 13-27-403, 13-27-406, 13-27-407, 13-27-409, 13-27-410, 13-27-501, 13-27-502, 13-27-503, 13-27-504, 13-37-126, 13-37-201, 13-37-228, 30-18-103
Introduced: 5-5-215, 5-11-105, 7-5-132, 7-7-2224, 7-14-204, 13-27-102, 13-27-103, 13-27-105, 13-27-112, 13-27-201, 13-27-204, 13-27-205, 13-27-206, 13-27-207, 13-27-208, 13-27-209, 13-27-210, 13-27-211, 13-27-301, 13-27-303, 13-27-304, 13-27-308, 13-27-311, 13-27-316, 13-27-317, 13-27-401, 13-27-402, 13-27-403, 13-27-406, 13-27-407, 13-27-409, 13-27-410, 13-27-501, 13-27-502, 13-27-503, 13-27-504