[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6303996,"mediaKeyId","2469382-9a2795c8dfbd68ae8d05c6b5fcd6a16f","parentId",2469382,"title","Senate committee advances change to late voter-registration hours after contested hearing","audioSeconds",9502,"startMs",828000,"endMs",10330000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2469382-9a2795c8dfbd68ae8d05c6b5fcd6a16f&start=828&end=10330","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2469382-9a2795c8dfbd68ae8d05c6b5fcd6a16f/thumbnail_828000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303996/Montana/Senate-committee-advances-change-to-late-voter-registration-hours-after-contested-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303996-8829c1e1b8330840b6f04eac7cade9c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950440&Signature=Yz5F69VPuNsYvwd3SvgEjwEFGsMIgc9eSe2p0kb7kbBiSrd8iDzPU~iPrRKo2JnQ-LXZZh31fpqYEO3tTR3fCOqOsPWlx92JQ8q3aIWO51TptFcjGL0ZzBK13pi3b6k2w~Da92AvomD8~a4lwjeNpPoBK3nYicCgLCRjtUOxXWUBjXirZknSwxvQZb275tSBPU5V2uQe27llnQNMyrSR4bqyHaUOSnCJsIYg8KrQJQsC0lyQE4Nhnj67FQncB9MUhJZ2gAEMJE8w-jtvkWhX8HNnA5YHwvvQFIkOtA3106Dw-teS4tPCHNXCDBuG7Qtk8gnVVnq6aZ8LP3cgFbsq8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-01T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 490, a proposal to revise late voter-registration hours for federal elections, won committee approval after a lengthy hearing and a roll-call vote.

Senator Mike Cuff introduced the bill as a ‘‘common sense’’ measure he said would let county election officials concentrate late-registration activity into less chaotic hours. ‘‘We open also 8 to 5 on Saturday morning before the election,’’ Cuff said, describing the bill’s core change to allow a full Saturday of registration and a shortened window on election day to noon so clerks can complete post-registration work on Monday.

County election officials and the secretary of state's office supported the bill. Austin James, testifying on behalf of Secretary of State Christy Jacobson, said the change would expand access for people who cannot register during weekday business hours and would not reduce total registration hours. ‘‘This bill does not reduce the amount of registration hours by 1 minute of current registration time. It instead reallocates those hours,’’ James said.

Clerks and election judges described operational strain from current same-day registration. Angie Paulson, Broadwater County Clerk and Recorder, said Saturday processing would reduce long lines and late-night work: ‘‘Election day is for voting. … For them to be able to process the bulk of those registrations on Saturday would help our voters and mitigate long lines.’’ Becky Stockton, a chief election judge from Lewis and Clark County, said earlier processing would help when copy machines fail or counties face unusually long lines.

Opponents included civil-rights and tribal advocates who said the change would reduce access for voters who rely on same-day registration. Henry Seaton of the ACLU of Montana told the committee that same-day registration is disproportionately used by Indigenous voters, young voters and voters with disabilities and that eliminating or narrowing it raises constitutional concerns. ‘‘The elimination of election day registration creates an unnecessary additional barrier to the ballot box that may ultimately result in denying the right to vote,’’ Seaton said. Patrick Yawaki, representing multiple tribes, said travel distances, limited mail delivery and work schedules make same-day registration essential for many reservation voters.

Committee members pressed for clarified language on timing. Several questioned whether the bill affects the voter’s right to register or the county office hours used for registration; legal counsel advised the language would be read in light of how the statute frames registration options for electors and the administrator duties.

An amendment to add a non-severability clause was adopted by voice. The committee then voted 6–3 on a roll call to pass SB 490 as amended. Votes recorded in the transcript show members split along concerns about access and election administration workload; the committee chair announced the final tally as 6 in favor, 3 opposed.

The committee also heard short, related administrative bills during the same hearing block, including measures about ballot processing and list maintenance for temporary change-of-address (snowbirds). Several clerks said operational fixes such as software updates might resolve some list-maintenance problems without statute changes.

What’s next: SB 490, as amended, cleared the committee and will go to the Senate for further consideration. The transcript records the committee-approved amendment and the roll-call result; legal challenges to similar measures have been filed previously in Montana, and opponents signaled they expect court review if the measure becomes law.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 490 — Motion: ‘‘Do pass’’ as amended (non-severability amendment). Roll-call result recorded in committee: 6 yes, 3 no. (See provenance.)
- Senate Bill 314 — Motion: ‘‘Do pass.’’ Passed in committee by voice vote. (See provenance.)
- Senate Bill 527 — Motion to table. Committee voted to table the bill (without objection at executive action).
- Senate Bill 499 — Motion to table. Committee moved to table the bill (executive action).

Sources: Committee hearing and executive action recorded on the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate State Administration 2025-03-01","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 490, a proposal to revise late voter-registration hours for federal elections, won committee approval after a lengthy hearing and a roll-call vote.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303986,"Tribal consultation bill draws bipartisan support and agency questions about implementation",3825,3000000,6825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2469382-9a2795c8dfbd68ae8d05c6b5fcd6a16f&start=3000&end=6825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2469382-9a2795c8dfbd68ae8d05c6b5fcd6a16f/thumbnail_3000000.jpg","/articles/6303986/Montana/Tribal-consultation-bill-draws-bipartisan-support-and-agency-questions-about-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303986-4464b808335f03c137207bc775389199/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950440&Signature=Qe0BazycSPbcJA3NFWmoGqZApxo4LNmgK1GUmP-Gx32dDD6SfEvUV-bCSPR~2mW8eB-2V-uS1KdVObDFOP8qAkeIeBsS0CMMwqotZLb22oxzRlWB0qtJTnryW9mxaWTPRGMZeYrOddskJO4FoqaC00sIU6wQw8qww7Ac12GUdAUKdFONwtZbb2tbD2uKLreRMxK1K2khU3DrwzqnhZX1aOM3k4t-Vr3y1ypILfCMhaNwiDkFu1yZSNMncSAZx9XZCu2h8XPaWq0Tptj8eu2NdIa3sSO5UvHKLVwff6ffNXZ7-qANBoV5su1EKAmZIgcMaBc698jOdTwLcnmHD36oAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 379, sponsored by Senator Susan Weber, would add a statutory definition of ‘‘tribal consultation’’ and require state departments and agencies to develop written consultation policies, designate a tribal liaison and report on consultation practices.

Proponents said the measure would strengthen government-to-government relations and improve agency planning. Patrick Yawaki, testifying for multiple tribes, said the bill would foster ‘‘regular communication… in a respectful way’’ and urged a do-pass recommendation. Imani Kindness Coleman, a Crow tribal citizen, told the committee that better-resourced tribal-liaison positions and clear processes would reduce mistakes and improve outcomes in areas ranging from education to Medicaid and child-welfare services.

Several agency officials testified as informational witnesses. Commissioner Sarah Swanson of the Department of Labor and Industry described a recently created office-level tribal liaison she said the agency had funded using existing resources; she said the department’s experience shows dedicated positions can meaningfully improve readiness and outreach in tribal communities. Chris Dorrington, a director at the Department of Transportation, said the agency frequently works directly with tribal governments through district administrators and environmental and engineering staff and that a single centralized liaison would not necessarily fit DOT’s structure.

Committee members asked about costs, whether one omnibus policy across executive agencies would be appropriate, and how the bill would interact with existing reporting requirements. Witnesses said many agencies already do consultation in some form but that practice is uneven. The bill’s sponsor and tribal advocates said the statutory definition and minimum reporting and liaison requirements would standardize practice without mandating a single model for all agencies.

No formal executive action on SB 379 was recorded in the transcript for that hearing block.

What’s next: The committee closed the hearing on SB 379 after testimony and questioning; the bill remains in committee for further action.

Speakers quoted are recorded verbatim from the committee transcript.","Senate Bill 379 would codify a definition of tribal consultation for state agencies and require agencies to designate a tribal liaison and adopt consultation policies. Tribal leaders and advocates urged passage; some agency officials said they already do similar work or that implementation varies by agency footprint.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303992,"Committee holds brief hearing on SB 527 about Medicaid coverage for IVF; sponsors seek tabling",9655,373000,10028000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2469382-9a2795c8dfbd68ae8d05c6b5fcd6a16f&start=373&end=10028","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2469382-9a2795c8dfbd68ae8d05c6b5fcd6a16f/thumbnail_373000.jpg","/articles/6303992/Montana/Committee-holds-brief-hearing-on-SB-527-about-Medicaid-coverage-for-IVF-sponsors-seek-tabling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303992-e042276fa4b7ef3be262b1e0a7ea6426/orig.mp4?Expires=1770950440&Signature=RQ395EvGSqjWThb-s840xmlv-S0gQxIlTOL5Caj5gHSHAimw2h5PP0eFmQHoFD5Q6~DwYqT4INnhPyPAkPzeeSJrhGkhu2o82CnwWbPo-tjNOhuZ0bJy1E9ZydFDfRlxWzIJkCRR~im8pQ7FKMf1e2-qngBpdJj~KG~HV0kCyrx2A96jKsYJhME9OCO8X8hrVbQJDSG8wGEOy1BmVNYB~G8AVMG~LaYIKRym5wvO7~xbjx44PEu9-bbSZYztBGLlw~cuQQPPug-NdBnNSLyjjZmxLSdM6D4F3hEKAYm6wBLghmVfb95amb43Qhh-pdd3im4I~Ew3XcB3EERq6MU42g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 527 drew a short hearing and public comment focused on the cost and ethical dimensions of funding in vitro fertilization through taxpayer-supported programs.

Senator Laura Smith, who represents parts of Jefferson and Lewis and Clark counties, opened the hearing and asked the committee to table the bill. ‘‘I request that this bill be tabled,’’ Smith said, signaling she would not press for immediate action amid concerns raised by opponents and inaccuracies she did not plan to address in that hearing.

Public opponents urged the committee not to use public funds for elective IVF care and raised ethical objections. A Ravalli County speaker, identified in the transcript as Loosenhuy, said that while he liked ‘‘pink bikes’’ and the niceties of life, ‘‘the question is, is this the role of government? Should government provide nice pink bikes?’’ He characterized IVF as an elective service that should not be a taxpayer responsibility.

Robin Sertell, testifying for Montanans for Life, focused on ethical and cost concerns and on specific provisions of the bill. ‘‘…doing it at taxpayer expense is burdensome for the taxpayers who are already stretched thin in Montana,’’ Sertell said. She raised concerns about section 3 of the bill and described what she called lifetime-care implications and large fiscal impacts, citing industry figures and alleging that the IVF industry performs selection practices she opposed.

There were no proponents noted in the room during the hearing and informational witnesses were not present. Senator Smith closed by reiterating her tabling request.

Executive action recorded later in the committee shows the motion to table SB 527 was made and ordered; the transcript records the chair’s instruction and the motion to table SB 527 was moved to the table during executive action.

What’s next: The committee disposed of SB 527 by tabling it at executive action. Because the sponsor requested tabling, the bill will not advance from this committee at this time.

Speakers and testimony are recorded in the committee transcript.","Senate Bill 527, which would require Medicaid coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in some form, received public opposition focusing on costs and ethical concerns. Sponsor Senator Laura Smith requested tabling and the committee later moved to table the bill during executive action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances change to late voter-registration hours after contested hearing

Tribal consultation bill draws bipartisan support and agency questions about implementation

Committee holds brief hearing on SB 527 about Medicaid coverage for IVF; sponsors seek tabling