Senate Bill No. [insert number] seeks to revise the laws governing ballot issues in Montana by instituting a legislative committee review process when a court determines that a proposed statewide initiative is legally sufficient. The bill amends multiple sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), particularly sections 13-27-213, 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219, and 13-27-228. Key provisions include allowing either the attorney general or a court to assess the legal sufficiency of proposed initiatives and refer them to the legislative services division for further examination. Additionally, the bill mandates that "yes and no" statements on ballots be positioned next to the ballot marking diagram and outlines the submission process for statutory initiatives, referendums, and constitutional initiatives, emphasizing the necessity of a fiscal note when applicable.

The bill also modifies the existing submission process for proposed initiatives by removing the requirement for the attorney general to find the initiative legally sufficient, instead stating that it will be determined as such. It requires the secretary of state to send a sample petition form to the submitter once the proposed ballot issue is deemed legally sufficient, either by court decision or existing law. Furthermore, it allows the interim committee or legislative council to meet remotely and clarifies that their vote outcomes will not be included in the initiative's statement of purpose or ballot title. The bill establishes an immediate effective date and applicability provisions, ensuring that these changes are implemented promptly for statewide ballot issues submitted after the bill's passage.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-27-213, 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219, 13-27-228, 13-27-233
SB0047_1(1): 13-27-213, 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219, 13-27-228, 13-27-233
SB0047_1(2): 13-27-213, 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219, 13-27-228, 13-27-233
SB0047_1(3): 13-27-213, 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219, 13-27-228, 13-27-233
SB0047_1: 13-27-213, 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219, 13-27-228, 13-27-233