The bill aims to enhance legislative oversight and public participation in the administrative rulemaking process in Montana. It requires agencies to accept public comments electronically and to provide their email addresses for better public engagement. Agencies must notify primary sponsors of proposed rule changes before drafting rules that implement legislation, and failure to comply with this notification will render the proposal notice ineffective. The bill also encourages public involvement during rule hearings and mandates that agencies respond to questions or comments raised during these sessions. Key amendments include the requirement for agencies to publish unredacted comments from primary sponsors in the adoption notice if their feedback is not incorporated, along with an explanation for the omission.

Additionally, the bill establishes a formal objection process for proposed rulemaking notices, allowing a majority of members from the appropriate administrative rule review committee to object, which prevents rule adoption until the committee meets again. It restricts agencies from adopting rules during the last quarter of the year before a regular legislative session, with exceptions for emergency rules and those that could not be adopted earlier. Agencies must provide explanations for any exemptions and notify committee members electronically about proposed rules. If no objections are raised within a specified timeframe, the agency may proceed with the rule adoption. The bill will take effect upon passage and applies to rule proposals published after its effective date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_1(1): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_1(2): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_1(3): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_1(4): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_1(5): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_1(6): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_1(7): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_1: 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(1): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(10): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(11): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(12): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(2): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(3): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(4): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(5): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(6): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(7): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(8): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2(9): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_2: 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_X(1): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_X(2): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_X(3): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_X(4): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_X(5): 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305
HB0126_X: 2-3-301, 2-4-302, 2-4-305