[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6625969,"mediaKeyId","2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555","parentId",2755171,"title","Bill would give municipalities explicit authority to regulate camping and storage on municipal property","audioSeconds",367,"startMs",3885000,"endMs",4252000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555&start=3885&end=4252","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555/thumbnail_3885000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6625969/Montana/Bill-would-give-municipalities-explicit-authority-to-regulate-camping-and-storage-on-municipal-property","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625969-2344f86ffe1052c438729e0b162cef9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986032&Signature=NXkD-n2n509VYk-NfTzIwKBGr1XzwolUzFyQsdg9XyPvJ1HYjyrFK-vYF0XNdJybTny2EijyxcVm53DkB8qOyv05G9ICA8xTihP7ihjaCQChGOOHRWnndbY7aAi-9aTm7KCgcLyc~InEqjn8Tt~yGI2QpTZGab6cRAOLy2coxItpVsQlFNxgpb7KYYWHfLmA1hfD6ynjucjJiO1b7yJzp~VWlPjx5UmRoVCSbabYruNO6Uo1jP~yKnie4BbFspArM5nqMCZYUYQaQy--C95X4sBNhwtUiPN7FXY4vFGSMDIS0fTO8gSf81vsnkvOT5PH6ckQmkns0LzFYcpqzOyKhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Greg Overstreet told the Senate Local Government Committee that House Bill 208 would give municipalities an explicit statutory statement that they may regulate the storage of personal property and sleeping or camping on municipal real estate.

Overstreet said the idea stemmed from the U.S. Supreme Court's Medford decision and from questions small towns face about what authority they have to manage their own public property. \"My idea was...why not just have a statute that laid out that it's a power of a municipality to control its own real estate,\" he said, noting that adoption of an ordinance would be voluntary for each city or town.

Jennifer Olson, government affairs director for the Montana League of Cities and Towns, and Brad Longcake speaking for the city of Billings testified in support, saying the bill gives local governments a clear tool to address public-safety and property concerns on municipal land. Committee members asked how enforcement would work; Overstreet said he has a companion bill (cited as House Bill 618) that would make violations a public nuisance and create an enforcement pathway including an abatement process and a private right of action to seek injunctive relief.

No opponents testified in person or online during the committee hearing. The committee took no formal action; the sponsor closed the hearing by restating the voluntary nature of the authority the bill would provide.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Local Government - Mar 24, 2025 16:15 - 19:15","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 208 would let municipalities adopt ordinances limiting storage of personal property and sleeping or camping on municipal real estate; the bill's sponsor told the Senate Local Government Committee it is voluntary for cities and towns.","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},6625974,"Bill would let county commissioners terminate citizen-initiated zoning districts; opponents warn of property-rights loss",2427,1466000,3893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555&start=1466&end=3893","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555/thumbnail_1466000.jpg","/articles/6625974/Montana/Bill-would-let-county-commissioners-terminate-citizen-initiated-zoning-districts-opponents-warn-of-property-rights-loss","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625974-8156c0f90be1e99c324b725450c135e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986032&Signature=IUHcJkzlF8cobBFpweAF0beNoauYa5YfhUpIFA4IF1KvL2Rtyh5GjO6gj~Exs71iT~O1hASk8bLBkhRS8lUS6zEuBBaccio~snKHzLzZehmTVlNG-7M3OeaS-yPSydkBIfVYBZdo-htGfw9IZUltJRhmIve0gvaLB3ApXmWnFNaUKm75wmA5CcyNxXBMzi5jORgaIiGvPYpSusrV5Y3S0Be1wt5uH4Cqdm32RYcq8TNgJmk-~w0gy1Fvv5I4gBqkUwTgAdOFJU6ck2tYwtDnQZ-U0mseOYzb9FhBd8wEmAw46r-F4hUqTGExMnRfZpjZbJnS24ByeSXXz2KHMIsRow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 614, introduced in the Senate Local Government Committee by Representative Greg Overstreet, would permit county commissions to terminate citizen-initiated zoning districts after notice and a public hearing if one of two conditions is met: the county has opted into the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MALUPA) or the county has established a larger zoning district that encompasses the area in question.

Proponents said the change provides a clear, administrative path for counties struggling with a patchwork of many small, distinct zoning districts. \"Counties are looking for solutions to this situation and...dissolving the old underlying districts,\" said a proponent, who described how some counties have dozens of separate zoning districts. The proponent told the committee that Gallatin County has 22 zoning districts, Ravalli County 44, Lewis and Clark County 37 and Missoula County 31, and said complying with new legislative mandates across many small districts can require dozens of hearings and separate legal notices.

Ross Butcher, a Fergus County commissioner speaking for the Montana Association of Counties, said HB 614 provides \"a straightforward process to allow county commissioners to terminate citizen initiated zoning districts when the county commissioners are seeking a more comprehensive approach to zoning in the county or if the county intends to opt in to the land use planning act.\" He emphasized the proposal includes notice and public hearings.

Opponents — including residents of part 1 and part 2 zoning districts, local association representatives and conservation groups — said the bill would undermine the protections that citizen-initiated zoning districts were created to provide. Matt Elsasser, deputy director of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, said the measure is \"a threat to due process, public notice, and participation in property rights.\"

Multiple residents testified that citizen-initiated part 1 and part 2 zoning districts were created after a lengthy public process to protect agricultural heritage, habitat, wildfire resilience and property values. \"These zones are time tested, effective part of managing growth,\" said an opponent representing a Spring Hill planning-district property-owners group. Charles Howe, a Spring Hill resident and former local fire chief, described wildfire risks near national forest boundaries and said local zoning helped provide fire protections.

Several opponents urged keeping the current referendum process for termination in place. One suggested an amendment to let counties initiate a termination process but preserve the referendum as the final decision; another suggested a protest provision instead of replacing the citizen vote. Committee members asked technical questions about statutory consistency: a senator asked why the bill includes a three-year bar on filing a subsequent petition to terminate a district; a committee witness clarified the three-year provision aligns part 2 termination language with existing part 1 statute so that, if a referendum fails, petitioners must wait three years before re-filing.

Sponsor Representative Overstreet said the bill is optional for counties and emphasized that where strong local opposition exists commissioners are unlikely to use the authority. He closed by saying the measure is intended to give counties tools to reduce administrative duplication while protecting public process.

The committee did not take a formal vote during the hearing.","House Bill 614 would allow county commissioners to terminate citizen-initiated zoning districts if a county opts into the Montana Land Use Planning Act or creates a larger zoning district covering the same area; the Senate committee heard the bill and extensive public opposition.",{"_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},6625979,"Committee hears bill to extend audio/video recording requirement to small towns",213,1262000,1475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555&start=1262&end=1475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555/thumbnail_1262000.jpg","/articles/6625979/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-extend-audiovideo-recording-requirement-to-small-towns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625979-f0a907effae3412125ad08378a5b155d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986032&Signature=NzKRPU~76uRUHasaBKQqo4T6qCbZ2oEoLSzDnhLdYi2QKaWvQDeYFLZCkj157OUv5SCiRxvzAuGT4ekULxOYX8~hT3FnKKeEZjU~4P8wBdUCATWUWzDhjdh~YN5u3Rx-4bWbl-qD7A13FUN-HgyU527KpGNpgy47agEado8AW2IAZ6abQniq~6rwZnp3TrvVFtBzSV9iRyhv1HRdgh-DwqxfCIGZ6hid~U4fLpTWAgttsxATXQaKMM1KaLi9DLfOC-nP~JrtzFv3Gog5u3ced3OXOjGUQL4EhPkjfgMPP67YtykYY9CrZW0y4BoNb4nMaEMm-nDkj0fkv0S9Bin8~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Brad Barker opened testimony on House Bill 393, which would add towns to the state law that requires public meetings of local governments to be recorded and made publicly available.

\"House bill 393 is just an addition to the audio and video recording bill that I did for, transparency last session,\" Barker said, noting the current change narrows the bill to include towns (defined in testimony as jurisdictions of about 300 to 1,000 people). He told the committee he and the League of Cities and Towns had consulted about technical capacity and that the changes intend to address earlier concerns about smaller jurisdictions' ability to implement recording and publishing requirements.

Jennifer Olson, government affairs director for the Montana League of Cities and Towns, appeared as an informational witness and told the committee she is available to answer technical questions. Barker told senators that feedback since last session has been largely positive; he said complaints have decreased in some places after the earlier audio/video bill was enacted. No opponents appeared in person or online during the hearing.

Senators asked procedural and enforcement questions; one senator joked about spelling the sponsor's name as part of committee levity. Barker closed by noting he would accept questions later and thanked the committee. The committee took no formal action during the hearing.","House Bill 393 would expand last session's public meeting audio- and video-recording requirement to include towns with populations between 300 and 1,000. Sponsor Brad Barker and the Montana League of Cities and Towns said technical concerns were addressed; no opponents testified.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6625983,"Senate panel hears bill to standardize municipal public notices",428,824000,1252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555&start=824&end=1252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755171-1b26aa02caa67a17a285a9d7a60e6555/thumbnail_824000.jpg","/articles/6625983/Montana/Senate-panel-hears-bill-to-standardize-municipal-public-notices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625983-58d2ee86ab61fd8dbafec3e86194b508/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986032&Signature=LltyrLDD6pCVw6EgOBx8GHZs5n3PyFoafuDV3kC4xCzek8Av4I5ETAdwpl7ZrwV5LxASMChEOeOaTTnEsXd-g7uEskzQEEQfQM7CYscWhJOvm5pdACRjrpWRTUKVIawInlK0WhVwPfJ3y29E5B99~-bENBvpGzsVrLThNoqZh8tyf6dd8aIrs~KHPOu9AUrNlXOT8xBb7fmRXktQrsIbbI7KiwlhM68XFSQ8Fa5kfITyfXld3hmchYZGatBkXmoRziYscbvMFWNK~JcdstjanRosYd0QAciBFi4u8D1Yv19vTDotwrIy5vjXkGV~EYfKi7NAejBTmywds1qWdtVQdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 394, which would standardize how cities and towns publish public notices, was introduced to the Montana Senate Local Government Committee on Jan. 1, 2025, by Representative Larry Brewster.

Supporters told the committee the bill simplifies and clarifies existing, varying municipal noticing rules by creating a short window and a long window measured in business days rather than calendar days. Mike Maas, the city clerk in Bozeman, testified that the change \"aims to simplify and standardize noticing requirements for cities and towns to make it easier for city clerks to administer and for the public to understand.\" He said the bill models its timelines on existing land-use notice windows found in Title 76, adopting five business days for short notices and 15 business days for long notices in many cases.

Proponents said the measure would reduce staff time and eliminate confusing, overlapping timelines in which residents currently may receive multiple, separate notices for assessments, budget hearings and major land-use decisions. Maas explained that switching to business days avoids problems caused when publication deadlines fall on weekends or holidays and matches notice periods already used for many land-use items.

Committee members asked how the change would work in practice for communities that rely on weekly newspapers. Maas acknowledged that in communities with weekly publications the shift from calendar days to business days could extend the calendar time between notice and hearing, but said proponents believe the business-day standard is clearer for clerks and the public. Representative Brewster told the committee counties had identified a single wording issue related to Labor Day that would be addressed in an amendment before executive action.

The committee took no formal action. The hearing closed and the sponsor said he will provide a technical amendment to address the Labor Day concern before the bill is scheduled for executive action.","The Senate Local Government Committee heard House Bill 394, which would standardize municipal public noticing timelines by moving from calendar days to business-day notice windows and creating a short and long notice option. Supporters said the change simplifies administration and public understanding; no formal vote was taken.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would give municipalities explicit authority to regulate camping and storage on municipal property

Bill would let county commissioners terminate citizen-initiated zoning districts; opponents warn of property-rights loss

Committee hears bill to extend audio/video recording requirement to small towns

Senate panel hears bill to standardize municipal public notices