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HB821 • 2025

Revise vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative

Revise vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Jodee Etchart
Last action
2025-05-22
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.

Revise vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative

Revise vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative

What This Bill Does

  • Revise vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative

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.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-22 HOUSE

    (H) Died in Process

  2. 2025-04-28 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  3. 2025-04-28 SENATE

    (S) 3rd Reading Failed; 2nd House Vote Required

  4. 2025-04-25 SENATE

    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  5. 2025-04-25 SENATE

    (S) 2nd Reading Concurred

  6. 2025-04-24 SENATE

    (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred

  7. 2025-04-23 SENATE

    (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

  8. 2025-04-12 SENATE

    (S) Hearing

  9. 2025-04-07 SENATE

    (S) First Reading

  10. 2025-04-07 SENATE

    (S) Referred to Committee

  11. 2025-04-05 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading

  12. 2025-04-05 HOUSE

    (H) 3rd Reading Passed

  13. 2025-04-05 HOUSE

    (H) Transmitted to Senate

  14. 2025-04-04 HOUSE

    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading

  15. 2025-04-04 HOUSE

    (H) 2nd Reading Passed

  16. 2025-03-27 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

  17. 2025-03-27 HOUSE

    (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed

  18. 2025-03-05 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  19. 2025-02-27 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  20. 2025-02-27 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  21. 2025-02-26 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  22. 2025-02-26 HOUSE

    (H) Introduced

  23. 2025-02-11 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  24. 2025-02-10 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  25. 2025-02-10 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  26. 2025-02-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  27. 2025-02-07 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  28. 2025-02-06 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  29. 2025-02-05 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Taken Off Hold

  30. 2025-01-26 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft On Hold

  31. 2024-12-15 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Revise vote requirement to enact constitutional amendment by initiative

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
2026
69th Legislature 2025 HB 821.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 821
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 821
2 INTRODUCED BY J. ETCHART
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONTANA AN
5 AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XIV, SECTION 9, OF THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION TO RAISE THE
6 NUMBER OF ELECTORS NEEDED TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION MADE BY
7 INITIATIVE.”
8
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
10
11Section 1. Article XIV, section 9, of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended to read:
12 "Section 9. Amendment by initiative. (1) The people may also propose constitutional amendments
13 by initiative. Petitions including the full text of the proposed amendment shall be signed by at least ten percent
14 of the qualified electors of the state. That number shall include at least ten percent of the qualified electors in
15 each of two-fifths of the legislative districts.
16 (2) The petitions shall be filed with the secretary of state. If the petitions are found to have been
17 signed by the required number of electors, the secretary of state shall cause the amendment to be published as
18 provided by law twice each month for two months previous to the next regular state-wide election.
19 (3) At that election, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors for
20 approval or rejection. If approved by a majority three-fifths of the electors voting thereon, it shall become a part
21 of the constitution effective the first day of July following its approval, unless the amendment provides
22 otherwise."
23
24 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Two-thirds vote required. Because [section 1] is a legislative proposal
25 to amend the constitution, Article XIV, section 9, of the Montana constitution requires an affirmative roll call vote
26 of two-thirds of all the members of the legislature, whether one or more bodies, for passage.
27
28 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Submission to electorate. [This act] shall be submitted to the qualified
2026
69th Legislature 2025 HB 821.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 821
1 electors of Montana at the general election to be held in November 2026 by printing on the ballot the full title of
2 [this act] and the following:
3 [] YES on Constitutional Amendment ____.
4 [] NO on Constitutional Amendment ____.
5 - END -