House Bill 394 revises municipal public notice and public hearing requirements in Montana to enhance efficiency and transparency in local government operations. Key amendments include changes to the publication frequency and timing of notices, mandating that the first notice be published at least five business days before a hearing or action. The bill eliminates the previous requirement for certain notices to be published three times with a minimum of six days between publications, allowing for a more flexible approach. Additionally, it updates deadlines for the adoption of resolutions by municipalities and counties to align with the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in September.

The bill also amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, including the insertion of new provisions that clarify notice requirements for various municipal actions and the deletion of outdated language. It specifies that notices must adhere to the updated guidelines and permits the use of municipal websites for posting notices in certain situations. Furthermore, House Bill 394 introduces an expedited review process for specific subdivision applications, allowing exemptions from environmental assessments under certain conditions, and mandates local governing bodies to provide written statements regarding decisions on subdivision applications. Overall, the bill aims to streamline regulatory processes while ensuring adequate public participation.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_1(1): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_1(2): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_1(3): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_1(4): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_1(5): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_1: 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(1): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(2): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(3): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(4): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(5): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(6): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(7): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(8): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2(9): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_2: 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_3(1): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_3(2): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_3(3): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_3(4): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_3(5): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_3(6): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_3(7): 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_3: 7-1-4127, 7-6-4024, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(1): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(10): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(11): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(2): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(3): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(4): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(5): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(6): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(7): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(8): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X(9): 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307
HB0394_X: 7-1-4127, 7-12-4179, 7-12-4329, 7-12-4425, 7-12-4426, 15-6-221, 69-7-111, 76-1-602, 76-2-303, 76-2-306, 76-3-503, 76-3-605, 76-3-623, 76-8-107, 76-25-307