HB548 • 2025

Generally revise the laws regarding claims requiring expert witness testimony

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Anthony Nicastro
Last action: 2025-05-20
Official status: (H) Died in Process
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Generally revise the laws regarding claims requiring expert witness testimony

What This Bill Does

Generally revise the laws regarding claims requiring expert witness testimony

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1

COMMITTEE

Plain English: Amendment - 1st Reading-white - Requested by: Greg Overstreet - (H) Judiciary - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Rachel Weiss, HB0548.001.001 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 548 1 HOUSE BILL NO.

Amendment - 1st Reading-white - Requested by: Greg Overstreet - (H) Judiciary - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Rachel Weiss, HB0548.001.001 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 548 1 HOUSE BILL NO.
548 2 INTRODUCED BY A.
NICASTRO 3 4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT PROVIDING THAT THE COURT MUST CONSIDER CERTAIN 5 FACTORS WHEN ALLOWING AN EXPERT WITNESS TO TESTIFY; AND PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS.” 6 7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: 8 9 NEW SECTION.
Section 1.

Bill History

2025-05-20 HOUSE
(H) Died in Process
2025-03-12 HOUSE
(H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
2025-02-26 HOUSE
(H) Tabled in Committee
2025-02-20 HOUSE
(H) Hearing
2025-02-19 HOUSE
(H) Referred to Committee
2025-02-19 HOUSE
(H) First Reading
2025-02-18 HOUSE
(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
2025-02-18 HOUSE
(H) Introduced
2025-01-25 HOUSE
(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
2025-01-22 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Assembly
2025-01-21 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
2025-01-21 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
2025-01-20 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Legal Review
2025-01-20 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Edit
2024-12-07 HOUSE
(LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Generally revise the laws regarding claims requiring expert witness testimony

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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69th Legislature 2025 HB 548.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 548
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 548
2 INTRODUCED BY A. NICASTRO
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT PROVIDING THAT THE COURT MUST CONSIDER CERTAIN
5 FACTORS WHEN ALLOWING AN EXPERT WITNESS TO TESTIFY.”
6
7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
8
9 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Expert witness testimony. Before an expert witness may testify under
10 Rule 702 of the Montana Rules of Evidence, the court shall determine the following factors:
11 (1) if the expert's scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to
12 understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
13 (2) if the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
14 (3) if the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and
15 (4) if the expert's opinion reflects a reliable application of the principles and methods to the facts of
16 the case.
17
18 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
19 integral part of Title 26, chapter 1, part 1, and the provisions of Title 26, chapter 1, part 1, apply to [section 1].
20 - END -