House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes to move municipal elections to even-numbered years, amending existing laws to facilitate this transition. Specifically, it modifies Section 13-1-104 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to include municipal officer elections on general election day in even-numbered years, while eliminating the requirement for such elections to occur in odd-numbered years. Additionally, Section 13-1-107 is amended to remove the provision for primary elections in odd-numbered years and clarifies that the costs of municipal elections will be borne by the municipalities.

The bill also establishes a transition plan for municipal officers whose terms end in January 2026, 2028, or 2030, requiring special elections for one-year terms to align with the new schedule. Furthermore, the bill includes a saving clause to protect rights and duties that existed prior to its enactment, and it stipulates that the act will take effect immediately upon passage and approval, applying to all municipal elections scheduled thereafter.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-1-104
HB0221_1(1): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(10): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(2): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(3): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(4): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(5): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(6): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(7): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(8): 13-1-104
HB0221_1(9): 13-1-104
HB0221_1: 13-1-104
HB0221_2(1): 13-1-104, 13-1-107
HB0221_2(2): 13-1-104, 13-1-107
HB0221_2(3): 13-1-104
HB0221_2(4): 13-1-104
HB0221_2(5): 13-1-104
HB0221_2(6): 13-1-104
HB0221_2(7): 13-1-104
HB0221_2(8): 13-1-104
HB0221_2(9): 13-1-104
HB0221_2: 13-1-104, 13-1-107