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- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB0221.2
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 221
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 221
2 INTRODUCED BY L. SCHUBERT, B. LER, E. BUTTREY, J. KASSMIER, R. MARSHALL, G. HUNTER, S.
3 MANESS, W. GALT, E. ALBUS, G. HERTZ, K. LOVE, R. GREGG, D. LOGE, T. MILLETT, J. HINKLE, J.
4 TREBAS, M. REGIER, L. BREWSTER, K. BOGNER, B. MITCHELL, K. ZOLNIKOV, J. SCHILLINGER, C.
5 HINKLE, L. DEMING, T. FALK, G. NIKOLAKAKOS, B. BARKER, Z. WIRTH, D. LENZ, N. DURAM, B.
6 MERCER
7
8 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT MOVING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO EVEN-NUMBERED
9 YEARS; PROVIDING A TRANSITION FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICERS; AMENDING SECTION SECTIONS 13-1-
10 104, AND 13-1-107, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY
11 DATE.”
12
13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
14
15Section 1. Section 13-1-104, MCA, is amended to read:
16 "13-1-104. Times for holding general elections. (1) A general election must be held throughout the
17 state on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
18 (2) In every even-numbered year, the following elections must be held on general election day:
19 (a) an election on any ballot issue submitted to electors pursuant to Article III, section 6, unless the
20 legislature orders a special election, or Article XIV, section 8, of the Montana constitution;
21 (b) an election of federal officers, members of the legislature, state officers, multicounty district
22 officers elected at a statewide election, district court judges, and county officers; and
23 (c) an election of officers for municipalities required by law to hold the election; and
24 (c)(d) any other election required by law to be held on general election day in an even-numbered
25 year.
26 (3) In every odd-numbered year, the following elections must be held on the same day as the
27 general election:
28 (a) an election of officers for municipalities required by law to hold the election; and
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB0221.2
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 221
1 (b) any other Only an election required by law to be held on general election day in an odd-
2 numbered year may be held in an odd-numbered year."
3
4SECTION 2. SECTION 13-1-107, MCA, IS AMENDED TO READ:
5 "13-1-107. Times Time for holding primary elections -- cost of municipal election. (1) On the first
6 Tuesday after the first Monday in June preceding a general election held in an even-numbered year, a primary
7 election must be held throughout the state.
8 (2) On the Tuesday following the second Monday in September preceding a general election held
9 in an odd-numbered year, a primary election, if required, must be held throughout the state.
10 (3)(2) The cost of a municipal election must be paid by the municipality."
11
12 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Transition. (1) For a municipal officer whose term of office ends in
13 January 2026, there must be an election in 2025 for a one-year term of office.
14 (2) For a municipal officer whose term of office ends in January 2028 or January 2030, there must
15 be a special election for a one-year term proceeding when their term of office is set to end. This special election
16 must take place during the preceding even-numbered year general election.
17
18 NEW SECTION. Section 4. Saving clause. [This act] does not affect rights and duties that matured,
19 penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before [the effective date of this act].
20
21 NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
22
23 NEW SECTION. Section 6. Applicability. [This act] applies to all municipal elections scheduled on
24 or after [the effective date of this act].
25 - END -