House Bill No. [insert number] proposes significant revisions to the laws governing statewide ballot issues in Montana. The bill mandates that the Secretary of State conduct a poll of the legislature on each statewide initiative submitted, requiring the results of this legislative poll to be included on the ballot. Specifically, within five working days after the petition submission deadline, the Secretary of State must send a ballot to each legislator, allowing them to express their support, opposition, or neutrality regarding the initiative. The results of this poll, categorized by political party, will be summarized and included in the voter information pamphlet and on the ballot itself.

Additionally, the bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically sections 13-27-401 and 13-27-501, to incorporate the new requirements for legislative polling results. It removes certain language regarding arguments for and against ballot issues while adding provisions to include the summary results of the legislative poll for both initiatives and referendums. The bill is designed to enhance transparency and provide voters with insights into legislative opinions on ballot measures, and it is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval, applying to initiatives submitted after the effective date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-27-401, 13-27-501
HB0375_1(1): 13-27-401, 13-27-501
HB0375_1(2): 13-27-401, 13-27-501
HB0375_1(3): 13-27-401, 13-27-501
HB0375_1: 13-27-401, 13-27-501