Senate Bill No. introduced by T. McGillvray proposes the creation of a new court in Montana, named the Government Claims Court, which will consist of three judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate for staggered six-year terms. The qualifications for judges include being a U.S. citizen, a resident of Montana for a specified duration, and having a minimum of five years of legal practice in the state. This court will have jurisdiction over civil actions concerning the constitutionality and legality of state actions, as well as asbestos-related claims, and will adhere to the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence.

The bill also amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify the jurisdiction and procedures of the new court, including allowing for the removal of civil actions from district courts to the Government Claims Court under certain conditions. It establishes a process for appeals directly to the supreme court and outlines the court's administration, including staff hiring and oversight by the supreme court. The bill specifies that the Government Claims Court will be a court of record, allows for concurrent original jurisdiction with district courts in certain matters, and mandates that judges be members of the Montana judges' retirement system. The effective date for the bill is set for July 1, 2025, with applicability to civil actions filed on or after October 15, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_1(1): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_1(2): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_1(3): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_1(4): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_1(5): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_1(6): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_1: 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(1): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(10): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(11): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(2): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(3): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(4): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(5): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(6): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(7): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(8): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2(9): 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301
SB0385_2: 2-4-702, 3-1-101, 3-1-102, 3-1-201, 3-5-115, 3-5-302, 3-20-102, 19-5-301