House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to enhance the procedures for statewide ballot issues in Montana by requiring the Secretary of State to conduct public hearings on various types of initiatives and referendums, including statutory and constitutional matters. The bill mandates that these public hearings occur concurrently with the review periods established by the legislative services division, ensuring that public input is integrated into the legislative process. Additionally, it amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect this requirement, thereby promoting transparency and public engagement in the decision-making process.

Furthermore, the bill specifies procedural requirements for constitutional convention initiatives, detailing the responsibilities of the Secretary of State and the legislative services division. It requires that notices for these initiatives include the attorney general's legal sufficiency opinion and mandates prompt communication of the initiative's final text and ballot statements once deemed legally sufficient. The bill also codifies the provisions related to constitutional convention initiatives within Title 13, chapter 27, part 2 of the MCA, ensuring that the new legal language is effectively integrated into the existing legal framework.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219
HB0780_1(1): 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219
HB0780_1(2): 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219
HB0780_1(3): 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219
HB0780_1(4): 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219
HB0780_1: 13-27-216, 13-27-217, 13-27-218, 13-27-219