House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to enhance citizen participation in the Attorney General's litigation processes concerning matters of state interest, in alignment with Article II, Section 8 of the Montana Constitution. The bill mandates that the Attorney General provide a statement of intent at least 10 business days before engaging in such litigation, detailing the nature of the case, the state's interest, the Attorney General's position, and a cost projection. Additionally, it requires the scheduling of a public hearing with a minimum of 5 business days' notice to allow for public comment. The Attorney General must consider these comments before proceeding with litigation and must post a response to the public feedback on the Department of Justice website.

The bill also introduces provisions for emergency situations, allowing the Attorney General to expedite the statement of intent process if necessary, while still requiring a follow-up to the public comment process. Furthermore, it amends Section 2-15-501 of the Montana Code Annotated to include a permanent register of all litigation cases handled by the Attorney General, which must be publicly accessible and updated with detailed cost information upon the conclusion of each case. This legislation seeks to ensure transparency and accountability in the Attorney General's use of state resources for litigation.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-15-501
HB0617_1(1): 2-15-501
HB0617_1(2): 2-15-501
HB0617_1: 2-15-501