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Read. Follow. Verify.Montana authorizes automated driving systems on public highways and grants rulemaking power
Last action · May 8, 2025: Chapter Number AssignedSponsor: Denley Loge
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What This Bill Does
Montana law now permits vehicles equipped with levels 1 through 3 to operate on state public highways, while levels 4 and 5 are subject to upcoming department regulations. The legislation establishes statutory definitions for automated driving technology and grants the Department of Transportation and Department of Justice authority to adopt safety rules and consult with stakeholders.
The measure sets statewide operational ground rules for autonomous vehicles, giving state agencies authority to restrict commercial automated vehicle use during dangerous road conditions and establishing legal definitions for automated driving levels.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Motor vehicle operators
Drivers must understand fallback responsibilities for level 3 automated driving systems and operating rules established by state agencies.
Local and tribal governments
Governments retain the ability to regulate local traffic and must be consulted by state agencies before rules are proposed.
Transportation and insurance industries
Commercial operators and insurers face new statutory definitions and potential operational rules set by state departments.
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
Are all automated vehicles allowed on Montana public highways?
Can local governments regulate automated vehicles on their streets?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
49 actions- May 8, 2025SenateChapter Number Assigned
- May 5, 2025SenateEnrolled(S) Signed by Governor
- Apr 25, 2025Senate(S) Transmitted to Governor
- Apr 25, 2025House(H) Signed by Speaker
- Apr 21, 2025Senate(S) Signed by President
- Apr 12, 2025Senate(S) Returned from Enrolling
Show 43 earlier actions
- Apr 11, 2025Senate(S) Sent to Enrolling
- Apr 11, 2025House(H) 3rd Reading
- Apr 11, 2025House(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- Apr 11, 2025House(H) 2nd Reading
- Apr 11, 2025House(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- Apr 10, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Committee Report
- Apr 9, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Committee Executive Action
- Apr 9, 2025House(H) Hearing
- Apr 9, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Rereferred to Committee
- Apr 1, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Committee Report
- Mar 31, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Committee Executive Action
- Mar 17, 2025House(H) Hearing
- Mar 6, 2025House(H) 1st Reading
- Mar 5, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Referred to Committee
- Mar 5, 2025Senate(S) Transmitted to House
- Mar 5, 2025Senate(S) 3rd Reading
- Mar 5, 2025Senate(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- Mar 3, 2025Senate(S) 2nd Reading
- Mar 3, 2025Senate(S) 2nd Reading Motion to Amend
- Mar 3, 2025Senate(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- Feb 28, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Committee Report
- Feb 27, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Committee Executive Action
- Jan 23, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Tabled in Committee
- Jan 21, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Committee Executive Action
- Jan 17, 2025Senate(S) Hearing
- Jan 14, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Referred to Committee
- Jan 9, 2025Senate(S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Printed
- Jan 9, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Printed
- Jan 8, 2025Senate(S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Signed
- Jan 8, 2025Senate(S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Received
- Jan 8, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- Jan 7, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Received
- Jan 6, 2025Senate(S) 1st Reading
- Dec 30, 2024Senate(S) Fiscal Note Requested
- Dec 27, 2024SenateIntroduced(S) Introduced
- Dec 27, 2024House(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Nov 19, 2024House(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Nov 17, 2024House(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Nov 17, 2024House(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Nov 14, 2024House(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Oct 31, 2024House(LC) Draft in Edit
- Sep 30, 2024House(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Sep 6, 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Establishment of Autonomous Vehicle Framework
Montana creates its first comprehensive statutory definitions and operating permissions for vehicles equipped with automated driving systems levels 1 through 5.
Connected Entities
Sources
bills.legmt.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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