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Read. Follow. Verify.Montana prevents county governing bodies from stripping election duties from sitting county clerk and recorders
Last action · May 23, 2025: (H) Died in CommitteeSponsor: Jeremy Trebas
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate Bill 128 prohibits county governing bodies from removing election administration duties from a sitting county clerk and recorder during their current term in office. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
Changes the legal authority over local elections by securing a clerk and recorder's election responsibilities for the duration of their elected term unless voluntarily surrendered.
- Jeremy Trebas is a Republican senator representing District 10 in the Montana Legislature. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
County clerk and recorder
County clerk and recorders are guaranteed retention of their election administration duties during their current term in office unless they voluntarily relinquish them.
Governing body of the county
County governing bodies are restricted from removing election administration responsibilities from a sitting county clerk and recorder during their current term.
Key Facts
- County governing bodies are prohibited from removing election administration responsibilities from a county clerk and recorder during their current term in office.
- A county governing body retains the authority to remove election administration responsibilities for future terms of office.
- A county clerk and recorder may voluntarily give up their election administration responsibilities during their current term in office.
- The county clerk and recorder of each county serves as the election administrator unless designated otherwise for a future term or another official is appointed.
Show all 5 facts
- The act takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a county government strip election duties from a clerk and recorder mid-term?
Can a county clerk and recorder give up election duties voluntarily?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
25 actions- May 23, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Died in Committee
- Mar 20, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Tabled in Committee
- Mar 20, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Tabled in Committee
- Feb 7, 2025House(H) Hearing
- Feb 3, 2025House(H) 1st Reading
- Feb 3, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Referred to Committee
Show 19 earlier actions
- Jan 31, 2025Senate(S) Transmitted to House
- Jan 31, 2025Senate(S) 3rd Reading
- Jan 31, 2025Senate(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- Jan 30, 2025Senate(S) 2nd Reading
- Jan 30, 2025Senate(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- Jan 28, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Committee Report
- Jan 27, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Committee Executive Action
- Jan 15, 2025Senate(S) Hearing
- Jan 14, 2025House(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Jan 13, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Referred to Committee
- Jan 13, 2025Senate(S) 1st Reading
- Jan 10, 2025SenateIntroduced(S) Introduced
- Dec 20, 2024House(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Dec 16, 2024House(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Dec 12, 2024House(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Dec 11, 2024House(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Dec 4, 2024House(LC) Draft in Edit
- Dec 2, 2024House(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Sep 20, 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
Connected Entities
Sources
bills.legmt.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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