House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise candidate filing laws in Montana by establishing new requirements for candidates seeking local and state office. The bill mandates that candidates must file for office prior to the primary election and prohibits unsuccessful primary candidates from seeking nomination in the general election. Additionally, the bill decreases the signature percentage required for third-party or independent candidate petitions. Key amendments include changing the candidate filing deadlines from 145 days to 105 days before the election and from 85 days to 90 days before the election, as well as adjusting the deadline for write-in candidates from 65 days to 90 days before the election.

The bill also introduces a provision that unsuccessful primary candidates cannot seek nomination by write-in vote or petition for the same office in the general election. Other amendments include clarifying the requirements for petitions for nomination by independent candidates and political parties, specifying that petitions must be signed by active electors, and establishing new signature requirements for statewide, federal, and legislative offices. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_1(1): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_1(2): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_1(3): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_1(4): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_1(5): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_1(6): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_1(7): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_1: 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(1): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(10): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(11): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(12): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(13): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(14): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(15): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(16): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(2): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(3): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(4): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(5): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(6): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(7): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(8): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2(9): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_2: 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(1): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(10): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(11): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(12): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(2): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(3): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(4): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(5): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(6): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(7): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(8): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3(9): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_3: 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_4(1): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_4(2): 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503
HB0207_4: 13-1-403, 13-1-502, 13-10-201, 13-10-211, 13-10-501, 13-10-502, 13-10-503