Senate Bill No. introduced by T. McGillvray proposes the creation of a new judicial entity in Montana, 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 these judges include U.S. citizenship, residency in Montana for a specified duration, and a minimum of five years of legal practice within the state. The 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 various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to incorporate the Government Claims Court into the state's judicial system, defining it as a court of record and specifying that it must have a seal. It allows for the transfer of civil actions from district courts to the Government Claims Court under certain conditions and outlines the procedures for appeals to the supreme court. Additionally, the bill includes a transition plan for the appointment of judges, with the governor required to appoint judges within 90 days of the bill's effective date, and establishes provisions for severability. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will apply 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(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