---
type: "Bill"
title: "Revise candidate filing and write-in candidate laws"
description: "Revise candidate filing and write-in candidate laws"
jurisdiction: "us/states/mt"
legislature: "Montana Legislature"
session: "2025"
identifier: "HB 207"
citation: "Montana HB 207 (2025)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Elections"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Jodee Etchart"]
version_count: 74
action_count: 39
vote_count: 9
first_action: "2024-11-12T00:54:47+00:00"
last_action: "2025-05-16T19:42:35+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/4d373f4d-3561-4635-9263-cec07faf18de"
source_url: "https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1223?open_tab=sum"
source_hash: "d5d3b9cf15b6e01169ec671836bed3007eb2f3f5b016e90e9982aaae987ee5c3"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-mt"]
---

# Montana HB 207 (2025) — Revise candidate filing and write-in candidate laws

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **HB0207.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277106)
2. **HB0207.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277105)
3. **HB0207.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277104)
4. **HB0207.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277103)
5. **HB0207.001.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277719)
6. **HB0207.001.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-full(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277716)
7. **HB0207.001.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277715)
8. **HB0207.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279354)
9. **HB0207.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279353)
10. **HB0207.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279352)
11. **HB0207.002.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279535)
12. **HB0207.002.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279534)
13. **HB0207.003.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295278)
14. **HB0207.003.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=295276)
15. **HB0207.003.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=296591)
16. **HB0207.003.003_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304667)
17. **HB0207_1(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=271783)
18. **HB0207_1(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=275248)
19. **HB0207_1(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=276306)
20. **HB0207_1(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278370)
21. **HB0207_1(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278371)
22. **HB0207_1(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278372)
23. **HB0207_1(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278373)
24. **HB0207_1.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=271646)
25. **HB0207_2(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278376)
26. **HB0207_2(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278462)
27. **HB0207_2(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278463)
28. **HB0207_2(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278464)
29. **HB0207_2(13).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279778)
30. **HB0207_2(14).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279779)
31. **HB0207_2(15).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279781)
32. **HB0207_2(16).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279782)
33. **HB0207_2(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278379)
34. **HB0207_2(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278380)
35. **HB0207_2(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278400)
36. **HB0207_2(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278405)
37. **HB0207_2(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278440)
38. **HB0207_2(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278441)
39. **HB0207_2(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278442)
40. **HB0207_2(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278443)
41. **HB0207_2.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=278375)
42. **HB0207_3(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279784)
43. **HB0207_3(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306448)
44. **HB0207_3(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306449)
45. **HB0207_3(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306450)
46. **HB0207_3(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279785)
47. **HB0207_3(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279786)
48. **HB0207_3(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279794)
49. **HB0207_3(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279795)
50. **HB0207_3(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279798)
51. **HB0207_3(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280625)
52. **HB0207_3(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306034)
53. **HB0207_3(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306447)
54. **HB0207_3.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=279783)
55. **HB0207_4(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306544)
56. **HB0207_4(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306545)
57. **HB0207_4(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=308972)
58. **HB0207_4(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=314386)
59. **HB0207_4(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=314387)
60. **HB0207_4.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=306525)
61. **HB0207_X(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=314389)
62. **HB0207_X(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=325030)
63. **HB0207_X(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=326117)
64. **HB0207_X(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=327487)
65. **HB0207_X(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=314390)
66. **HB0207_X(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=317181)
67. **HB0207_X(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=317400)
68. **HB0207_X(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=317401)
69. **HB0207_X(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=320852)
70. **HB0207_X(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=323151)
71. **HB0207_X(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=323152)
72. **HB0207_X(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=323153)
73. **HB0207_X.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=314388)
74. **LC1223.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=270572)

## Votes

- AMD-HB0207.002.001 Etchart DO PASS — **74–26** (pass) · lower
- Do Concur — **100–0** (pass) · lower
- be_concurred_in_as_amended — **9–0** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass As Amended — **59–41** (pass) · lower
- Do Concur — **63–36** (pass) · lower
- do_pass_as_amended — **11–8** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass — **59–41** (pass) · lower
- Do Concur — **43–5** (pass) · upper
- Do Concur — **47–3** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Jodee Etchart — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2024-11-12T00:54:47+00:00** (LC) Drafter Assigned
- **2025-01-01T21:56:36+00:00** (LC) Draft in Legal Review
- **2025-01-08T23:01:30+00:00** (LC) Draft in Edit
- **2025-01-10T14:08:24+00:00** (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- **2025-01-10T19:52:02+00:00** (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- **2025-01-11T14:47:22+00:00** (LC) Draft in Assembly
- **2025-01-14T15:56:48+00:00** (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- **2025-01-14T17:41:07+00:00** (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- **2025-01-15T14:37:28+00:00** (H) Introduced
- **2025-01-15T18:05:26+00:00** (H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration `referral-committee`
- **2025-01-15T20:09:30+00:00** (H) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-01-15T23:51:49+00:00** (H) Hearing - (H) State Administration
- **2025-01-31T20:46:16+00:00** (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended - (H) State Administration `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-03T20:23:02+00:00** (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended - (H) State Administration `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-06T20:27:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried `reading-2`
- **2025-02-06T20:28:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Passed as Amended `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-02-10T22:11:00+00:00** (H) 3rd Reading Passed `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-02-10T23:04:48+00:00** (H) Transmitted to Senate
- **2025-02-11T20:31:31+00:00** (S) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-02-17T19:04:36+00:00** (S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration `referral-committee`
- **2025-03-12T14:48:00+00:00** (S) Hearing - (S) State Administration
- **2025-04-07T23:18:37+00:00** (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended - (S) State Administration
- **2025-04-08T19:18:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended - (S) State Administration
- **2025-04-10T14:30:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-10T14:49:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Concurred `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-11T16:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-11T21:28:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Concurred `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-04-12T00:05:09+00:00** (S) Returned to House with Amendments
- **2025-04-16T19:00:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-16T19:58:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred `amendment-amendment, amendment-passage, reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-17T19:00:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-17T21:58:00+00:00** (H) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate `passage, passage, reading-3, reading-3`
- **2025-04-18T18:27:00+00:00** (H) Sent to Enrolling
- **2025-04-24T19:07:48+00:00** (H) Returned from Enrolling
- **2025-05-01T19:00:49+00:00** (H) Signed by Speaker `passage`
- **2025-05-02T16:00:24+00:00** (S) Signed by President `passage`
- **2025-05-05T16:05:54+00:00** (H) Transmitted to Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2025-05-12T17:16:00+00:00** (H) Signed by Governor `executive-signature`
- **2025-05-16T19:42:35+00:00** Chapter Number Assigned `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/4d373f4d-3561-4635-9263-cec07faf18de`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Montana legislature records).