Senate Joint Resolution No. 47, introduced by F. Mandeville, requests an interim study to evaluate the processes for creating new incorporated municipalities and counties in Montana. The resolution highlights existing statutory requirements, such as those in Title 7, chapter 2 of the Montana Code Annotated, which govern the creation and organization of local governments. It points out that current requirements, such as the need for a proposed ward to have 50 or more registered electors and a density of at least 200 inhabitants per square mile, may be overly stringent and warrant review. Additionally, it emphasizes that the citizens of the area proposed for a new county should have the right to vote on its creation, rather than all registered electors of the original county.

The resolution calls for the Legislative Council to designate an appropriate interim committee to conduct the study, which will include reviewing existing processes, analyzing historical cases of successful incorporations, and determining if any statutory requirements are redundant or in need of modernization. The committee is also tasked with engaging stakeholders, such as the Montana League of Cities and Towns and the Montana Association of Counties, to gather input from those interested in creating new municipalities or counties. The study's findings and recommendations are to be presented to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026.