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SJ 2MONTANASession 2025State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Montana Legislature disapproves of multiple Montana Supreme Court rules and urges explanatory testimony

Original title: Resolution disapproving of montana supreme court rules

Last action · May 23, 2025: (S) Died in ProcessSponsor: Barry Usher

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

The 69th Legislature of Montana formally disapproves of specific rules of practice, procedure, and administration adopted by the Montana Supreme Court, while urging the Court to provide explanatory testimony to lawmakers.

Why it matters

Exercises a constitutional check by rejecting specific court-promulgated rules governing civil procedure, appellate practice, district courts, electronic filing, public access, continuing legal education, and lawyer discipline.

Background
  • Under Article VII, section 2 of the Montana Constitution, the Montana Supreme Court holds administrative and procedural rulemaking authority for state courts, subject to legislative review and potential disapproval. context
  • SJ 2 was introduced during the 2025 legislative session at the request of the Law and Justice Interim Committee. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Montana Supreme Court

The Court's adopted rules are formally disapproved by the Legislature, and the Court is urged to provide explanatory testimony.

Directly affected

State Bar of Montana

Receives a copy of the resolution regarding rules that govern attorney practice, continuing legal education, and disciplinary enforcement.

Directly affected

Judicial Standards Commission

Receives a copy of the resolution addressing rules governing its standards and operations.

Directly affected

Montana Judges Association

Receives a copy of the resolution concerning administrative and procedural court rules.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Legislature have the constitutional authority to disapprove court rules in Montana?
Yes. Article VII, section 2, of the Montana Constitution provides that rules of procedure adopted by the Montana Supreme Court are subject to disapproval by the legislature in either of the two sessions following .
Which specific court rules are targeted by this resolution?
The resolution targets nine sets of rules and revisions, including rules for civil procedure, appellate procedure, uniform district courts, , electronic filing, public access portals, continuing legal education, lawyer disciplinary enforcement, and Judicial Standards Commission rules.
What action does the resolution request from the Montana Supreme Court besides expressing disapproval?
The resolution urges the Montana Supreme Court to provide explanatory testimony related to these rules to the 69th Legislature.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This resolution did not become law - Died in committee.

Procedural history

15 actions
  1. May 23, 2025Senate
    (S) Died in Process
  2. Apr 7, 2025Senate
    (S) Missed Deadline for Revenue Bill Transmittal
  3. Feb 18, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Tabled in Committee
  4. Jan 25, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing Canceled
  5. Jan 7, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  6. Jan 6, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
Show 9 earlier actions
  1. Dec 6, 2024SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  2. Dec 6, 2024House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  3. Nov 19, 2024House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  4. Nov 15, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  5. Nov 8, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  6. Oct 10, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  7. Oct 7, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  8. Sep 26, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  9. Sep 24, 2024House
    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Barry UsherSenate · District 19RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Legislative Oversight of Court Administration

The resolution exercises a rare constitutional power allowing the Legislature to review and reject administrative, procedural, and disciplinary rules promulgated by the state's highest court.

Montana Supreme CourtState Bar of MontanaJudicial Standards CommissionMontana Judges Association

Connected Entities

Judicial Standards Commission, Montana Supreme Court, Montana Judges Association and 2 more
OrganizationJudicial Standards Commission“Recipient of the resolution copy and subject to rules referenced”Map →
OrganizationMontana Supreme Court“Adopter of the rules subject to legislative disapproval”Map →
OrganizationMontana Judges Association“Recipient of the resolution copy”Map →
OrganizationSecretary of State“Tasked with sending copies of the resolution to specified entities”Map →
OrganizationState Bar of Montana“Recipient of the resolution copy”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 40)
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment15
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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