The Montana Senate State Administration Committee on the afternoon of the 20th took executive action and concurred in four House bills that the committee described as procedural or clarifying in nature.

Committee members voted to concur in House Bill 193, House Bill 67, House Bill 248 and House Bill 293. Committee staff provided brief summaries before voice or roll-call votes. Three bills passed by unanimous voice vote; House Bill 293 passed on roll call with one recorded “no.”

House Bill 193 was moved for concurrence by the vice chair and passed unanimously by voice vote after committee members described it as straightforward. No amendments were offered in committee. Committee staff recorded that there were no substantive discussion points that changed the bill text before the vote.

House Bill 67, described by committee staff as a broad technical revision affecting the Teachers’ Retirement System, “clarif[ies] the reporting duties of employers, clarif[ies] elective membership deferral for certain positions, clarif[ies] active membership and dormant member status, clarif[ies] the purchase of deferred elective service, revises mandatory distribution provisions to conform with federal law, and clarif[ies] disability retirement allowance calculations,” passed by unanimous voice vote.

House Bill 248, described briefly by staff as changes to election registration cancellation law, also passed by unanimous voice vote.

House Bill 293, described as revisions to law requiring appointed election administrators to report to a county governing body, drew more discussion. One senator announced he would vote no; a subsequent roll-call recorded a majority in favor and one no. The committee delegated carrying responsibilities for the bill to a senator who volunteered to carry it to the Senate floor.

Votes at a glance
- House Bill 193 — Motion to concur moved by vice chair (as recorded in committee); passed by unanimous voice vote (committee recorded as unanimous). No amendments. Outcome: concurred/approved.
- House Bill 67 — Described by staff as technical revisions to the Teachers’ Retirement System; no amendments; passed by unanimous voice vote. Outcome: concurred/approved.
- House Bill 248 — Described by staff as revisions to election registration cancellation procedures; no amendments; passed by unanimous voice vote. Outcome: concurred/approved.
- House Bill 293 — Revision requiring appointed election administrators to report to county governing bodies; drew committee discussion about the relationship between elected clerks and appointed administrators; vote passed on roll call with one recorded no. Outcome: concurred/approved.

Committee staff handled the bill explanations and confirmed which bills had no amendments. Several members who spoke during discussion emphasized the need to preserve lines of accountability in election administration when appointment powers are used. The committee took the executive actions early in its scheduled meeting, citing floor activity in the House that shifted timelines earlier in the afternoon.

The committee did not record detailed roll-call tallies for the three voice-vote bills in the hearing record; the committee announced when a bill passed unanimously and recorded a roll-call for House Bill 293.