HB605 • 2025

Revise criminal laws related to strip searches

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor: George Nikolakakos
Last action: 2025-05-13
Official status: (H) Vetoed by Governor
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.

Revise criminal laws related to strip searches

What This Bill Does

Revise criminal laws related to strip searches

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 2

COMMITTEE

Plain English: Amendment - 1st Reading/2nd House-blue - Requested by: (S) Judiciary - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Julianne Burkhardt, HB0605.002.002 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 605 1 HOUSE BILL NO.

Amendment - 1st Reading/2nd House-blue - Requested by: (S) Judiciary - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Julianne Burkhardt, HB0605.002.002 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 605 1 HOUSE BILL NO.
605 2 INTRODUCED BY G.
NIKOLAKAKOS, S.
KELLY, S.

Bill History

2025-05-13 HOUSE
(H) Vetoed by Governor
2025-05-07 HOUSE
(H) Transmitted to Governor
2025-05-06 SENATE
(S) Signed by President
2025-05-02 HOUSE
(H) Signed by Speaker
2025-04-29 HOUSE
(H) Returned from Enrolling
2025-04-28 HOUSE
(H) Sent to Enrolling
2025-04-25 HOUSE
(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
2025-04-25 HOUSE
(H) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
2025-04-24 HOUSE
(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
2025-04-24 HOUSE
(H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
2025-04-22 SENATE
(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
2025-04-22 SENATE
(S) 3rd Reading Concurred
2025-04-22 SENATE
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
2025-04-18 SENATE
(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
2025-04-18 SENATE
(S) 2nd Reading Concurred
2025-04-16 SENATE
(S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
2025-04-16 SENATE
(S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
2025-04-11 SENATE
(S) Taken from Table in Committee
2025-04-10 SENATE
(S) Taken from Table in Committee
2025-03-28 SENATE
(S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Not Concurred
2025-03-28 SENATE
(S) Tabled in Committee
2025-03-28 SENATE
(S) Tabled in Committee
2025-03-24 SENATE
(S) Hearing
2025-03-14 SENATE
(S) First Reading
2025-03-14 SENATE
(S) Referred to Committee
2025-03-06 HOUSE
(H) 3rd Reading Passed
2025-03-06 HOUSE
(H) Transmitted to Senate
2025-03-04 HOUSE
(H) 2nd Reading Passed
2025-02-27 HOUSE
(H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended
2025-02-27 HOUSE
(H) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended
2025-02-24 HOUSE
(H) Hearing
2025-02-20 HOUSE
(H) Introduced
2025-02-20 HOUSE
(H) Referred to Committee
2025-02-20 HOUSE
(H) First Reading
2025-02-18 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
2025-02-18 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
2025-02-18 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Assembly
2025-02-18 HOUSE
(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
2025-02-18 HOUSE
(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
2025-02-15 HOUSE
(LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
2025-02-15 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Legal Review
2025-02-15 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Edit
2024-12-13 HOUSE
(LC) Drafter Assigned
2024-12-13 HOUSE
(LC) Draft On Hold

Official Summary Text

Revise criminal laws related to strip searches

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 605
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 605
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT PROVIDING THAT A PERSON WHO WILL BE HOUSED IN A JAIL OR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS MAY BE SUBJECT TO A STRIP SEARCH; PROVIDING FOR A FEE; AND
AMENDING SECTION 46-5-105, MCA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 46-5-105, MCA, is amended to read:
"46-5-105. Reasonable suspicion required before strip search -- exception -- fee. (1) A Except as
provided in subsection (2), a person arrested or detained for a traffic offense or an offense that is not a felony
may not be subjected to a strip search or a body cavity search by a peace officer or law enforcement employee
unless there is reasonable suspicion to believe the person is concealing a weapon, contraband, or evidence of
the commission of a crime.
(2) If a person will be housed in a jail or correctional facility following an initial appearance or
arraignment for more than 12 hours, the person may be subjected to a strip search. For the purposes of this
subsection, the strip search conducted by a peace officer or law enforcement employee may not include
penetration of any body cavity. The strip search of the person must be conducted by a peace officer or law
enforcement employee of the same sex.
(3) Each county in the state of Montana shall pay a $250 fee to the department of justice to assist
in the development of guidelines for conducting strip searches."
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 605, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE BILL NO. 605
INTRODUCED BY G. NIKOLAKAKOS, S. KELLY, S. FITZPATRICK, N. DURAM
AN ACT PROVIDING THAT A PERSON WHO WILL BE HOUSED IN A JAIL OR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS MAY BE SUBJECT TO A STRIP SEARCH; PROVIDING FOR A FEE; AND
AMENDING SECTION 46-5-105, MCA.