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House committee approves extending meeting‑recording requirement to small towns with longer posting window

February 22, 2025 | 2025 Legislature MT, Montana

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House committee approves extending meeting‑recording requirement to small towns with longer posting window
Representative Barker brought House Bill 393 to add towns (population 300 to 1,000 under statute) to the entities required to record public meetings. The sponsor said the bill is a follow‑up to last session’s transparency measures and would require audio recordings for smaller towns and allow a 14‑business‑day posting window for those entities; larger entities remain subject to the existing five‑business‑day posting requirement and video standards.

Opponents argued the change is an unfunded mandate and worried about costs for very small towns; the sponsor and supporters said the technical costs are low and some residents already record meetings on personal devices. Representative Sprunger said the bill promotes transparency and noted there were no opponents who showed up in committee to challenge implementation costs.

The Committee of the Whole recommended the bill do pass on second reading by recorded vote, 66 yes and 34 no; Representative Fielder recorded a no vote.

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Scribe from Workplace AI
Scribe from Workplace AI