House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant revisions to local government elections in Montana by mandating that these elections be conducted on a partisan basis. The bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically Sections 7-3-112, 7-3-113, 7-3-114, 7-3-219, 7-3-314, 7-3-413, 7-3-513, and 7-3-4262. Key changes include replacing the term "shall" with "must" in various sections to emphasize the requirement for compliance, and the removal of references to nonpartisan elections, thereby establishing a clear directive for local government elections to be partisan.

Additionally, the bill introduces a saving clause to ensure that existing rights and duties, penalties, or proceedings that were initiated before the effective date of the act remain unaffected. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval, signaling a swift transition to the new election framework. Overall, this legislation aims to align local government elections with partisan political structures, reflecting a broader trend towards increased partisanship in local governance.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 7-3-112, 7-3-113, 7-3-114, 7-3-219, 7-3-314, 7-3-413, 7-3-513, 7-3-4262
HB0482_1(1): 7-3-112, 7-3-113, 7-3-114, 7-3-219, 7-3-314, 7-3-413, 7-3-513, 7-3-4262
HB0482_1(2): 7-3-112, 7-3-113, 7-3-114, 7-3-219, 7-3-314, 7-3-413, 7-3-513, 7-3-4262
HB0482_1: 7-3-112, 7-3-113, 7-3-114, 7-3-219, 7-3-314, 7-3-413, 7-3-513, 7-3-4262