House Bill No. introduced by various legislators aims 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 require municipal officer elections to be held on general election day in even-numbered years, while eliminating the requirement for such elections in odd-numbered years. Additionally, it amends Section 13-1-107 to establish that primary elections will occur in June of even-numbered years and removes the provision for primary elections in odd-numbered years.

The bill also includes provisions for a transition period 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, it establishes that the costs of municipal elections will be borne by the municipalities and includes a saving clause to protect rights and duties that existed prior to the bill's effective date. The act is set to 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(10): 13-1-104
HB0221_2(11): 13-1-104
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