House Bill No. introduced by L. Deming mandates a one-time performance audit of the Montana State Bar Association, to be conducted by the Legislative Audit Division. The audit will focus on understanding the funding sources of the state bar, analyzing budgets, costs, and functions over the past decade, and assessing financial, operational, and technological risks. The judicial branch is responsible for covering the costs of the audit, which must be completed and presented to the legislative audit committee by December 15, 2026. The results will also be shared with the law and justice interim committee and posted on the Legislative Audit Division's website.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 5-13-102 of the Montana Code Annotated to include entities created by or subject to the supervision of the Montana Supreme Court within the definition of "state agency." The audit will not examine any confidential or sensitive files protected by Montana Supreme Court rules, ensuring that attorney trust account information, disciplinary files, and other sensitive records remain secure. This legislation aims to enhance transparency and accountability within the Montana State Bar Association.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 5-13-102
HB0065_1(1): 5-13-102
HB0065_1(2): 5-13-102
HB0065_1(3): 5-13-102
HB0065_1(4): 5-13-102
HB0065_1(5): 5-13-102
HB0065_1: 5-13-102
HB0065_2(1): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(10): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(11): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(12): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(13): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(14): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(2): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(3): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(4): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(5): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(6): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(7): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(8): 5-13-102
HB0065_2(9): 5-13-102
HB0065_2: 5-13-102
HB0065_3(1): 5-13-102
HB0065_3(2): 5-13-102
HB0065_3(3): 5-13-102
HB0065_3(4): 5-13-102
HB0065_3(5): 5-13-102
HB0065_3(6): 5-13-102
HB0065_3(7): 5-13-102
HB0065_3(8): 5-13-102
HB0065_3: 5-13-102