House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to limit the liability of owners, lessees, or operators of agricultural vehicles on highways, establishing that they are not liable for non-economic damages exceeding $750,000 per claim and $1.5 million per occurrence, while still permitting claims for economic damages. The bill introduces a new duty of care for motor vehicle operators towards individuals and livestock in agricultural vehicles, indicating that unsafe driving behaviors near these vehicles may constitute a breach of this duty. Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify definitions related to agricultural operations and vehicles, including a new section defining the duty of care owed by motor vehicle operators to agricultural vehicles and their occupants.

Moreover, the bill refines definitions of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorcycles, and other vehicle types, explicitly including quadricycles and golf carts under certain conditions while excluding bicycles and certain low-powered vehicles. It introduces a 40-day grace period for new owners of transferred motor vehicles to apply for a certificate of title and pay registration fees, allowing operation under a temporary registration permit during this period. The bill also permits operation of certain vehicles without a current registration receipt if a temporary permit is displayed and authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into reciprocal agreements with adjacent states for drivers transporting farm products or machinery. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage, with specific applicability to causes of action filed after the effective date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_1(1): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_1(2): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_1(3): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_1(4): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_1(5): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_1(6): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_1(7): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_1: 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(1): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(10): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(2): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(3): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(4): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(5): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(6): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(7): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(8): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2(9): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_2: 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(1): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(10): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(11): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(12): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(13): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(14): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(15): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(2): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(3): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(4): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(5): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(6): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(7): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(8): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3(9): 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102
HB0212_3: 61-1-101, 61-3-317, 61-5-112, 61-8-102