The proposed bill, known as the "Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act," aims to establish a framework for the management and accessibility of legal materials in electronic formats within the state of Montana. It defines key terms such as "legal material," which includes the state constitution, session laws, and the Montana Code Annotated, and outlines the responsibilities of official publishers in designating, authenticating, preserving, and ensuring public access to these electronic records. The bill mandates that any legal material published electronically must be authenticated to confirm its integrity and accuracy, and it sets forth standards for preservation and security to maintain the usability of these records. 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, will serve as the official version of the state's statutes. This amendment includes the insertion of the phrase "or [sections 1 through 11]," to emphasize the integration of the new electronic legal material standards into existing law. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and aims to promote uniformity in the application of electronic legal material laws across states that adopt similar legislation.

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