The bill amends Section 13-37-126 of the Montana Code Annotated to update the deadline for the Commissioner of Political Practices to certify political candidates for municipal races. Specifically, it introduces a new requirement that the commissioner must provide notification regarding non-compliance by candidates or their treasurers no later than 5 days after the candidate filing deadline for both municipal primary and general elections. This replaces the previous requirement for the municipal general election, which mandated notification by September 30 or the preceding Friday if that date fell on a weekend.

Additionally, the bill establishes an immediate effective date upon passage and approval, and it specifies that the new provisions will apply to all municipal primary and general elections held on or after April 20, 2025. This update aims to streamline the certification process for municipal elections and ensure timely communication regarding candidate eligibility.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-37-126
HB0455_1(1): 13-37-126
HB0455_1: 13-37-126