[{"_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",6100390,"mediaKeyId","2813611-591d8631c082f10312b1b96f677c9e01","parentId",2813611,"title","Bill to let disabled Montanans return ballots electronically splits election and disability groups","audioSeconds",3597,"startMs",1469000,"endMs",5066000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813611-591d8631c082f10312b1b96f677c9e01&start=1469&end=5066","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813611-591d8631c082f10312b1b96f677c9e01/thumbnail_1469000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100390/Montana/Bill-to-let-disabled-Montanans-return-ballots-electronically-splits-election-and-disability-groups","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100390-c645f4fdd4e2fbf017b32cf5ff07a975/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448098&Signature=cQ3j1fthAWltMx2udou99blkpDlT0MP~y9jO1y8c9GfEr~6zZSaqDtvMhaIDkE06aguYnA~tZjmUnGVdXKxCP6F9nVsCQuizgGFuTRtuqlxHW2gjdq7MfGjZLbmTyPM3Rvl2NDTAo83JDI8tKXi8m5XJEnRK1xfOxDILdNjT0mUVDm4nZLA-tZ2bEctZTbNxu6B94BwApsZAhLGO4yXe0lYk1XuuVGNKftZjc~r5sEXbM3fYbIt6ahGtK4TkBdLHTXx83Iqeb1f0-kFctJEpzahz75Yo1tXVf23rwnDG6oxo7pn4PNL3Tk7ge~JET44x74m2BjRPHYB8HxBQgpCJdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Julie Darling opened the hearing on House Bill 488, which would allow a disabled elector to return a voted ballot by an encrypted electronic transmission system approved by the Secretary of State and would require the Secretary of State to adopt encryption and security standards for electronic transmission systems.

Advocates with the National Federation of the Blind, independent living centers, Disability Rights Montana and other organizations described barriers blind and otherwise disabled voters face when returning absentee ballots. Jacob Krzovich of the National Federation of the Blind told the committee it can take him \"approximately two hours\" to travel to vote and that he lacks the same convenient absentee options used by most Montanans. Several proponent witnesses emphasized that the proposal would not be online voting — ballots would be returned electronically to election officials, printed and processed through the same local procedures used for overseas and military ballots.

County election administrators and clerks said the proposed electronic ballot return process mirrors the existing UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) return process used for military and overseas voters: counties receive an emailed or portal submission, print the ballot, run it through a resolution board and transcribe it for tabulation. Lewis and Clark County Elections Supervisor Connor Fitzpatrick told the committee those procedures already exist in many counties and urged a due‑pass recommendation.

Opponents included the Secretary of State's elections director, who said the office supports accessibility but is not confident that secure, private electronic ballot return is achievable now. Austin James testified that federal partners including CISA and NIST have concluded electronic ballot return presents high security and privacy risks; he described a recent incident in which a Washington, D.C. firm distributed a mailer with a QR code that briefly bypassed parts of the UOCAVA process and said the office tightened procedures after that event.

Verified Voting, a national nonprofit, testified in opposition and cited NIST and other risk assessments concluding electronic ballot return carries significant risks to ballot secrecy, integrity and verifiability. County election officials who testified in support said they would use the same safeguards applied to UOCAVA ballots and work with the Secretary of State on technical standards.

Definition and eligibility: HB 488 as discussed would limit use to an elector who affirms they meet the statutory definition of an individual with a disability (temporary or permanent). Witnesses said the existing electronic ballot request system was limited to voters who affirm disability under state law and that UOCAVA registrants must reapply each election cycle. Committee members raised questions about the practical verification of temporary disabilities and about whether expanded electronic return could be used beyond the intended population.

Committee process and outcome: the hearing included many proponents and several opponents; the Secretary of State’s office asked the committee to reject the bill until stronger national standards exist. County election administrators said they support the bill and would follow secure procedures similar to those used for overseas voters. The transcript records no committee vote; sponsor Darling asked for a green vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate State Administration - Friday, Mar 28, 2025 15:31 - 17:11","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 488 would let voters with disabilities return voted absentee ballots using an encrypted electronic transmission approved by the Secretary of State; disability advocates urged the change as a privacy and access fix, while the Secretary of State’s elections director warned federal agencies consider electronic ballot return high risk.","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},6100395,"Bill would let Office of Public Instruction hire retired teachers for up to five years",566,770000,1336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813611-591d8631c082f10312b1b96f677c9e01&start=770&end=1336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813611-591d8631c082f10312b1b96f677c9e01/thumbnail_770000.jpg","/articles/6100395/Montana/Bill-would-let-Office-of-Public-Instruction-hire-retired-teachers-for-up-to-five-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100395-40aaea180eeef38e1da1800402b5220c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448098&Signature=V~RJPXfALXJGnCkr32nk4pr8b0JP9D8oqPHJAZbJIaWBHWlYEiUFXVDW3uZ4dzZeGw2VYrEnof850ANMMFE3agXCdKAgwz-Xr-0wcY57gTSwrK1ektYS~e5OaTCaa7q-3425NrOaE1huXsIeRlAEI3gdssi1U~v1JesFPp7Fy1NTNTlMHGwiabp3FKSc8tiqy9-ALeF-cfnk3PuASDbsmxkXJ0ctgAL6vEn9xg8mFYLSn8N~d3NAVhGKPcsU9e~mxGS-0ZRTMmyyL4nhr~~JvPHWXIvb9hRNQfiwRYhDvnj0MBQ1qOhTuobniVngUHw7r8QLDOl2~WkVB5tfg56RKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Nicola Nakolakakos (as introduced): \"This is a straightforward bill that allows the Office of Public Instruction, known as OPI, to hire retired teachers for a position where they have otherwise been unable to find qualified applicants.\" Representative Nakolakakos told the committee House Bill 349 is intended to give OPI flexibility to fill specialized positions when qualified applicants are not available.

Deputy Superintendent Ron Whitmoyer, Department of Public Instruction, testified in strong support. Whitmoyer described the bill as allowing \"retired educators like myself to step into key positions at OPI when no qualified applicants are available\" and said the measure would not displace entry‑level teachers.

Bill mechanics and limits: witnesses said HB 349 would allow retired teachers to work for OPI for up to five years while continuing to receive retirement benefits; OPI would contribute to the teacher retirement fund for those employees. Witnesses referenced an existing program that allows retired teachers to return to K‑12 classrooms in certain districts and said that program’s success informed HB 349.

Questions from committee members focused on the eligibility threshold and fiscal effect. Teachers Retirement System legal counsel Jim Malizia testified to details about service credit. During questioning the number \"27 years\" was raised in relation to qualifying creditable service; Malizia and other witnesses described the pool of eligible retirees as limited but experienced. Sponsor and witnesses said HB 349 is not expected to have a material fiscal impact on the state.

Committee process and outcome: the hearing included proponents and informational witnesses and concluded without a recorded committee vote in the transcript. The sponsor asked the committee for a favorable recommendation (\"do concur\"), and witnesses agreed to answer follow‑up questions outside the hearing if needed.","House Bill 349 would allow the Office of Public Instruction to hire retired educators for up to five years while they continue to receive retirement benefits; sponsors and education officials said the change is limited to OPI positions where no qualified applicants are available and is not expected to have a material fiscal impact.",{"_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},6100400,"Montana bill would repeal long‑dormant interagency prevention council",597,181000,778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813611-591d8631c082f10312b1b96f677c9e01&start=181&end=778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813611-591d8631c082f10312b1b96f677c9e01/thumbnail_181000.jpg","/articles/6100400/Montana/Montana-bill-would-repeal-longdormant-interagency-prevention-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100400-21641f1b9a8c4d286c211ee49ead9f38/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448098&Signature=fhIuFpodltAZTJ---S7KkK1GGUt81EIsqeb52SWUCiyG-WxOcDwJ6CkKMTtkWutaTCNRmeLwKExV4DcPvQZOhbvlREwnMO6QUIZ-tc54HsMK6pG4wmafy2j3fUKDZCbk5DDFIaWW3LmPsEFmMolETTw7Ctv~xGLSiznvEiL0MjyiRWQt-UBSABm0LhTzt3VfsnQhJqnxp-iBXQmehxvYzJ~esfoKt-60D2J1KHa1~KRmxAAbPaxJKKLxfFTQh-5y3gD2VgETzwp5Gv1898ep9WOfaHIhn1ohcHwUoWRBh-7czks7G4Y2B1wHZ4A-Xr1SaGSKRqcKVYz6NtgtiBEUcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Lehi Bennett, sponsor: \"This bill is sort of a cleanup bill or a government efficiency bill.\" Bennett asked the Senate State Administration Committee to repeal the Interagency Coordinating Council for State Prevention Programs through House Bill 280.

The bill would abolish a council the sponsor said the Legislature created in 1993 to coordinate prevention services across state agencies. Bennett told the committee the council \"has not met for over 10 years,\" that its work has been incorporated into agency programs and that repeal would \"eliminate redundancy\" and save taxpayer dollars.

Why it matters: proponents argued the council’s duties overlap existing agency programs and that dissolving it would allow prevention efforts to be managed directly by the relevant departments. Kevin Northey, policy adviser to Governor Jane Fortner, told the committee the governor’s red‑tape review found many boards and councils whose missions have been completed and asked for a due‑pass recommendation for HB 280.

State Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) staff also testified in support, saying there is no publicly available data showing recent council activity and noting that current BHDD duties and the Behavioral Health Advisory Council already cover related prevention work required under the federal mental health block grant.

Committee process and outcome: the hearing was informational; no committee motion or recorded vote on HB 280 appears in the transcript. Proponents asked the committee to advance the bill for further consideration.

What was said about functions and membership: Bennett said the council was composed of 12 state agency representatives and two governor‑appointed members with prevention program experience and that, after conducting an inventory, it developed five youth risk‑behavior goals (reduce child abuse and neglect; reduce youth tobacco, alcohol and drug use; reduce youth violence and crime; reduce school dropout rates; reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease). Bennett and other supporters said agency programs now incorporate those prevention efforts.

Outstanding details: supporters characterized the change as fiscal and administrative housekeeping; the transcript contains no independent fiscal estimate, no timeline for repeal, and no recorded committee action on HB 280. The bill text and any referenced statute establishing the council were not read into the record during the hearing and are listed below as referenced but \"not specified\" in detail.

The committee moved on after questions concluded and accepted sponsor closing remarks asking for support.","A bill heard Feb. 14 would dissolve the Interagency Coordinating Council for State Prevention Programs, sponsors say the council’s mission has been fulfilled and its duties are duplicated across state agencies; supporters asked the committee for a do‑pass recommendation and officials said the council has not met in more than 10 years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill to let disabled Montanans return ballots electronically splits election and disability groups

Bill would let Office of Public Instruction hire retired teachers for up to five years

Montana bill would repeal long‑dormant interagency prevention council