House Bill 592 seeks to enhance the rulemaking process for state agencies under the Administrative Procedure Act by introducing several key requirements aimed at improving transparency and public participation. Agencies are now required to contact the primary sponsor of any related legislation at least 10 days before issuing a proposal notice, with the stipulation that failure to do so renders the proposal notice ineffective. Additionally, if an agency disagrees with comments from the primary sponsor, it must publish those unredacted comments alongside an explanation for not incorporating them into the proposed rule. The bill also establishes an "interested persons list" for individuals to receive updates on rule proposals and mandates that agencies provide economic impact statements when relevant.

Moreover, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated to clarify the requirements for rule validity and enhance accountability. Agencies must summarize and respond to public comments, provide citations for the authority under which rules are adopted, and issue written determinations regarding board actions within 30 days. The legislation includes provisions for a reconsideration process if requested by the board within 10 days and emphasizes the importance of including small business impact analyses in proposal notices. The act is effective upon passage and applies to rule proposals published on or after the effective date, ensuring prompt implementation of these changes.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_1(1): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_1(2): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_1(3): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_1(4): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_1(5): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_1: 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(1): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(10): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(11): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(12): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(13): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(14): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(2): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(3): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(4): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(5): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(6): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(7): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(8): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2(9): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_2: 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(1): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(10): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(11): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(12): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(13): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(14): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(15): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(16): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(2): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(3): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(4): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(5): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(6): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(7): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(8): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3(9): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_3: 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(1): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(10): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(11): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(12): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(13): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(2): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(3): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(4): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(5): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(6): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(7): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(8): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X(9): 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122
HB0592_X: 2-3-301, 2-4-110, 2-4-111, 2-4-302, 2-4-305, 2-4-306, 2-4-406, 37-1-122