MT HJ40

Requests the Legislative Council to designate an interim or statutory committee to study transferring fiscal note preparation responsibility from the executive branch (currently the budget director) to the legislative branch

Currently under Montana law, the budget director must prepare fiscal notes within 6 days for bills affecting state or local revenues, expenditures, or fiscal liability

Notes that several other states already have their legislative fiscal analyst and staff responsible for producing fiscal notes on proposed legislation

Legislative Services Division may provide administrative, research, and legal support; Legislative Fiscal Division may provide additional research and fiscal analysis

Study must be concluded prior to September 15, 2026, with final results reported to the 70th Legislature