---
type: "Bill"
title: "Require petition submittals be dropped off within a specific timeframe"
description: "Require petition submittals be dropped off within a specific timeframe"
jurisdiction: "us/states/mt"
legislature: "Montana Legislature"
session: "2025"
identifier: "SB 226"
citation: "Montana SB 226 (2025)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Ballot Issues", "Elections"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Mike Cuffe"]
version_count: 72
action_count: 49
vote_count: 11
first_action: "2024-12-08T22:53:17+00:00"
last_action: "2025-05-16T14:21:43+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/bfbd8dbb-80e4-48f6-8336-ed33d5dd5176"
source_url: "https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2577?open_tab=sum"
source_hash: "52654350c6763038600baee3c9dd733f7f574875c679ea9f89ff1d2a50e50819"
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 SB 226 (2025) — Require petition submittals be dropped off within a specific timeframe

## Version chain

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

1. **LC2577.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=274800)
2. **SB0226.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=289757)
3. **SB0226.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=296389)
4. **SB0226.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=296390)
5. **SB0226.002.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=299857)
6. **SB0226.002.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=299858)
7. **SB0226.003.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=311921)
8. **SB0226.003.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=311922)
9. **SB0226.003.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312030)
10. **SB0226.003.002_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312032)
11. **SB0226.003.003_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312082)
12. **SB0226.003.003_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312083)
13. **SB0226.003.004_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312105)
14. **SB0226.003.004_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=312106)
15. **SB0226.003.005_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313285)
16. **SB0226.003.005_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313286)
17. **SB0226.003.007_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313349)
18. **SB0226.003.007_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313350)
19. **SB0226.003.008_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313944)
20. **SB0226.003.008_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=313946)
21. **SB0226_1(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=276712)
22. **SB0226_1(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277158)
23. **SB0226_1(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290455)
24. **SB0226_1(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290456)
25. **SB0226_1(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290457)
26. **SB0226_1(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290458)
27. **SB0226_1.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=275880)
28. **SB0226_2(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290460)
29. **SB0226_2(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300363)
30. **SB0226_2(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300364)
31. **SB0226_2(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300365)
32. **SB0226_2(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290462)
33. **SB0226_2(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290463)
34. **SB0226_2(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290490)
35. **SB0226_2(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290499)
36. **SB0226_2(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290716)
37. **SB0226_2(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=292953)
38. **SB0226_2(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300055)
39. **SB0226_2(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300362)
40. **SB0226_2.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=290459)
41. **SB0226_3(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300367)
42. **SB0226_3(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=316403)
43. **SB0226_3(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=316404)
44. **SB0226_3(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=316405)
45. **SB0226_3(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300368)
46. **SB0226_3(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300369)
47. **SB0226_3(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300387)
48. **SB0226_3(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300392)
49. **SB0226_3(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300405)
50. **SB0226_3(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=307339)
51. **SB0226_3(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=307438)
52. **SB0226_3(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=316402)
53. **SB0226_3.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=300366)
54. **SB0226_4(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=317851)
55. **SB0226_4(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318500)
56. **SB0226_4(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318501)
57. **SB0226_4.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=316407)
58. **SB0226_X(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318503)
59. **SB0226_X(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322723)
60. **SB0226_X(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322724)
61. **SB0226_X(12).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=324966)
62. **SB0226_X(13).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=326641)
63. **SB0226_X(14).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=327725)
64. **SB0226_X(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318618)
65. **SB0226_X(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318619)
66. **SB0226_X(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=319006)
67. **SB0226_X(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=319007)
68. **SB0226_X(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=319014)
69. **SB0226_X(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=319015)
70. **SB0226_X(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=321009)
71. **SB0226_X(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=322722)
72. **SB0226_X.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=318502)

## Votes

- do_pass_as_amended — **6–3** (pass) · upper
- Do Pass — **32–18** (pass) · upper
- Do Adopt — **47–2** (pass) · upper
- Do Adopt — **47–2** (pass) · upper
- Do Not Concur — **32–18** (pass) · upper
- Do Concur — **94–3** (pass) · lower
- Do Adopt — **95–5** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass — **31–18** (pass) · upper
- Do Concur — **94–4** (pass) · lower
- be_concurred_in_as_amended — **18–1** (pass) · lower
- Do Adopt — **98–2** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Mike Cuffe — primary (person)

## Timeline

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

- **2024-12-08T22:53:17+00:00** (LC) Drafter Assigned
- **2025-01-13T22:16:07+00:00** (LC) Draft in Legal Review
- **2025-01-27T16:18:58+00:00** (LC) Draft in Edit
- **2025-01-27T20:03:04+00:00** (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- **2025-01-27T21:14:59+00:00** (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- **2025-01-28T03:30:05+00:00** (LC) Draft in Assembly
- **2025-01-28T16:51:22+00:00** (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- **2025-01-28T19:14:13+00:00** (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- **2025-01-28T20:33:51+00:00** (S) Introduced
- **2025-01-28T20:36:00+00:00** (S) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-01-29T20:52:00+00:00** (S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration `referral-committee`
- **2025-02-04T20:54:11+00:00** (S) Hearing Canceled - (S) State Administration
- **2025-02-17T17:48:31+00:00** (S) Hearing - (S) State Administration
- **2025-03-01T02:50:23+00:00** (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended - (S) State Administration `committee-passage`
- **2025-03-01T18:37:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended - (S) State Administration `committee-passage`
- **2025-03-04T10:43:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-03-04T20:42:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Passed `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-03-05T10:43:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-03-05T15:46:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-03-05T22:12:50+00:00** (S) Transmitted to House
- **2025-03-05T22:16:15+00:00** (H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration `referral-committee`
- **2025-03-06T15:07:42+00:00** (H) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-03-18T16:01:16+00:00** (H) Hearing - (H) State Administration
- **2025-03-28T16:23:41+00:00** (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) State Administration
- **2025-03-28T19:50:00+00:00** (H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) State Administration
- **2025-04-08T19:36:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Concurred `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-09T19:50:00+00:00** (H) 3rd Reading Concurred `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-04-09T20:50:12+00:00** (H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
- **2025-04-11T16:46:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments Not Concurred `amendment-failure, reading-2`
- **2025-04-12T20:15:00+00:00** (S) Conference Committee Appointed
- **2025-04-14T20:37:51+00:00** (H) Conference Committee Appointed
- **2025-04-15T22:16:55+00:00** (S) Hearing - Conference Committee on SB 226
- **2025-04-23T00:15:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended - Conference Committee on SB 226 `committee-passage`
- **2025-04-23T17:06:00+00:00** (S) Conference Committee Report Received `receipt`
- **2025-04-23T17:24:16+00:00** (H) Conference Committee Report Received `receipt`
- **2025-04-24T19:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-24T22:01:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-25T15:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-25T15:31:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-25T17:30:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted `reading-3`
- **2025-04-28T17:00:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-28T17:29:00+00:00** (H) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted `reading-3`
- **2025-04-28T19:32:25+00:00** (S) Sent to Enrolling
- **2025-04-29T21:58:13+00:00** (S) Returned from Enrolling
- **2025-05-02T16:00:06+00:00** (S) Signed by President `passage`
- **2025-05-05T19:00:51+00:00** (H) Signed by Speaker `passage`
- **2025-05-05T19:55:00+00:00** (S) Transmitted to Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2025-05-13T21:11:00+00:00** (S) Signed by Governor `executive-signature`
- **2025-05-16T14:21:43+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/bfbd8dbb-80e4-48f6-8336-ed33d5dd5176`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Montana legislature records).