House Bill No. introduced by J. Darling 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. The bill specifies that for municipal primary and general elections, the commissioner must notify the secretary of state and election administrator of any non-compliance by candidates or their treasurers no later than five days after the candidate filing deadline. This replaces the previous requirement for the commissioner to provide notification by September 30 for municipal general elections, which could fall on a weekend.

Additionally, the bill establishes an immediate effective date upon passage and approval, and it applies to all municipal primary and general elections held on or after April 20, 2025. This legislative change 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(2): 13-37-126
HB0455_1: 13-37-126