House Bill No. introduced by B. Mercer aims to revise the requirements for awarding attorney fees to parties who prevail against the state government. The bill establishes specific elements that must be demonstrated when seeking such claims, including the necessity of an engagement letter or representation agreement detailing the scope of representation and hourly rates, daily documentation of work performed with precise time increments, and proof of payment for invoices within a specified timeframe. However, an exception is provided for parties whose income and assets do not exceed $250,000 at the end of the most recent fiscal year, exempting them from these requirements.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision allowing parties to redact any information protected by attorney-client privilege from the required disclosures. The new section is intended to be codified as part of Title 25, chapter 10, part 3 of the Montana Code. This legislative change seeks to clarify the process and requirements for claiming attorney fees while also ensuring that smaller parties are not unduly burdened by these stipulations.