House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to amend Montana's motor vehicle laws by prohibiting manufacturers and distributors from compelling new motor vehicle dealers to buy or sell electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This prohibition is established as contrary to public policy, rendering any contractual agreements that enforce such requirements void. The bill also clarifies definitions for "electric vehicle" and "plug-in hybrid electric vehicle" to align with current legal standards. Furthermore, it amends Section 61-4-208 of the Montana Code Annotated to explicitly prevent coercion of dealers into accepting deliveries of these vehicle types, thereby reinforcing the autonomy of franchisees against unreasonable demands from manufacturers and distributors.

In addition to these provisions, the bill maintains existing restrictions on the ownership and operation of motor vehicle dealerships, ensuring that manufacturers and related entities cannot own or operate a dealership, with limited exceptions for temporary operations during ownership transitions. It specifies that such entities may only operate a dealership if they have a legitimate business relationship with an independent investor who has a financial stake in the dealership and aims for full ownership. The bill also includes a codification instruction to integrate its provisions into Title 61, chapter 4 of the Montana Code, ensuring that these new regulations are officially recognized within the state's legal framework governing motor vehicle dealerships.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 61-4-208
HB0550_1(1): 61-4-208
HB0550_1(2): 61-4-208
HB0550_1(3): 61-4-208
HB0550_1(4): 61-4-208
HB0550_1: 61-4-208