House Bill 917 seeks to revise Montana's campaign finance laws by updating the definitions of political committees and clarifying the reporting requirements for incidental committees. The bill introduces a new legal definition for "incidental committee," which is characterized as a political committee not primarily organized to support or oppose candidates or ballot issues but may do so incidentally. It also specifies that a political committee is not formed when individuals make election communications or independent expenditures of $250 or less, or when candidates collaborate on their own campaign communications. Additionally, the bill allows individuals who are not Montana residents to sign incidental committee reports if the committee is located outside the state.

To further enhance clarity and compliance with updated regulations, the bill amends existing definitions in the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) and requires incidental committees to disclose specific information about contributions and expenditures. It also appropriates $1,000 from the general fund to the commissioner of political practices for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, to support the implementation of these changes. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the regulatory framework governing campaign finance, promoting transparency and accountability while accommodating the operational needs of incidental committees.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-1-101, 13-37-226, 13-37-232
HB0917_1(1): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_1(2): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_1(3): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_1(4): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_1: 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_X(1): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_X(2): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_X(3): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_X(4): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_X(5): 13-1-101, 13-37-232
HB0917_X: 13-1-101, 13-37-232