House Joint Resolution No. 49 requests an interim study of United States Highway 212 in Montana, particularly focusing on the section east of Billings, which has been identified as having significant safety issues. The resolution highlights the paradox of the highway, which offers beautiful scenery but also presents treacherous conditions, including poor road surfaces, limited winter maintenance, and inadequate emergency services. The highway has the highest fatality rate among rural roadways in Montana from 2013 to 2022, with Bighorn County experiencing the most fatalities after a few larger counties. The resolution aims to better understand these ongoing problems to develop solutions that could reduce fatalities and improve safety for motorists.

The Legislative Council is tasked with designating an appropriate interim committee or directing staff resources to investigate the conditions and challenges faced by motorists on U.S. Highway 212. The study will utilize various datasets, including information from the Montana Department of Transportation and local communities, to explore potential solutions that have been effective in other rural areas. The findings and recommendations from this study are to be presented to an appropriate committee and reported to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026.