The bill proposes the adoption of the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act in Montana, which establishes a framework for the management and accessibility of legal materials in electronic form. It defines key terms such as "legal material," which includes the Constitution of Montana, the Laws of Montana, and the Montana Code Annotated. The act mandates that official publishers of legal materials authenticate electronic records, ensuring that they are unaltered and secure. It also requires that these records be preserved and made publicly accessible, thereby promoting transparency and reliability in the state's legal documentation.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 1-11-103 of the Montana Code Annotated to clarify that the Montana Code Annotated, along with the provisions of the new act, constitutes the official version of Montana's statutes. This amendment emphasizes that the official version is the only publication that can be used in public documents. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and aims to align Montana's legal framework with national standards for electronic legal materials, ensuring uniformity and consistency across jurisdictions.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 1-11-103
HB0111_1(1): 1-11-103
HB0111_1(2): 1-11-103
HB0111_1(3): 1-11-103
HB0111_1(4): 1-11-103
HB0111_1(5): 1-11-103
HB0111_1(6): 1-11-103
HB0111_1(7): 1-11-103
HB0111_1(9): 1-11-103
HB0111_1: 1-11-103
HB0111_X(1): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(10): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(11): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(12): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(13): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(14): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(2): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(3): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(4): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(5): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(6): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(7): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(8): 1-11-103
HB0111_X(9): 1-11-103
HB0111_X: 1-11-103