MT SB226

Establishes four mandatory submission deadlines for petition signature sheets based on when signatures were collected: signatures gathered 287+ days before filing deadline must be submitted by 273 days before; 196+ days by 182 days before; 126+ days by 112 days before; and 98+ days by 84 days before the final filing date.

Requires county election administrators to date-stamp submitted affidavits, register them in a log, and provide a receipt to the signature gatherer or their agent.

Mandates rejection of signature sheets that miss the applicable submission deadline, prohibiting county election administrators from processing late filings.

Amends Section 13-27-302, MCA, governing certification of petition signatures for ballot initiatives.

Takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.