The bill seeks to enhance the process surrounding statewide ballot issues in Montana by requiring the Secretary of State to conduct public hearings on proposed ballot initiatives, referendums, and constitutional initiatives. A new section mandates that these hearings occur during the review period by the legislative services division, promoting greater public engagement and transparency. Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate this requirement and updates terminology for consistency, specifically changing "time frame" to "timeframe."

Furthermore, the bill streamlines the process for initiating a constitutional convention by requiring the Secretary of State to promptly send a sample petition form to the individual who submitted the proposed initiative after the executive director of the legislative services division reports the vote outcome. The bill also includes a codification instruction to integrate the new section into Title 13, chapter 27, part 2 of the law, ensuring its alignment with existing election and initiative laws.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219