Senate Bill No. [insert number] seeks to revise the procedures and requirements for local government ballot issues in Montana by introducing new definitions and a structured framework for signature gathering and verification for related petitions. Key provisions include mandates for petitions to focus on a single comprehensive subject, the inclusion of a statement of purpose and implications, and a formal review process by local government attorneys. The bill also establishes timelines for signature collection and submission, as well as conditions under which governing bodies may refer ordinances to a vote. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) and repeals certain existing sections to streamline the process, while also detailing election procedures for local government petitions, including ballot issue designations and numbering.

Additionally, the bill allows county commissioners to establish additional justice's courts and outlines the process for cities with populations over 5,000 to request such courts. It amends various sections of the MCA to update procedures for local government initiatives, including those related to marijuana businesses and local-option taxes, ensuring that any measures must be approved by a majority of qualified electors. The bill also introduces changes to local-option marijuana excise tax elections, requiring elections to be held upon receiving adequate petitions and limiting the frequency of such questions to once per fiscal year. Furthermore, it includes provisions for repealing certain sections of the MCA related to initiative or referendum elections and directs the code commissioner to renumber and codify specific sections, with the new provisions taking effect upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_1(1): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_1(2): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_1(3): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_1(4): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_1(5): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_1(6): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_1(7): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_1: 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(1): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(10): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(11): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(12): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(13): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(14): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(15): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(16): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(17): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(2): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(3): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(4): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(5): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(6): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(7): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(8): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2(9): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_2: 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(1): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-1-201, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(10): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(11): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(12): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(13): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(14): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(15): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(16): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(17): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(18): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(19): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(2): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-1-201, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(20): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(21): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(22): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(23): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(24): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(25): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(26): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(27): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(28): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(29): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(3): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-1-201, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(30): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(31): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(32): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(33): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(34): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(35): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(36): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(37): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(38): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(39): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(4): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-1-201, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(40): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(41): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(42): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(43): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(44): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(45): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(46): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(47): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(48): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(49): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(5): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(6): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(7): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(8): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3(9): 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311
SB0011_3: 3-10-101, 3-11-101, 7-1-4130, 7-3-1204, 7-5-131, 7-6-1504, 13-1-201, 13-10-612, 13-27-611, 16-1-205, 16-12-301, 16-12-311