MT SB52

Creates a new Montana Court of Chancery with three judges nominated by the governor and confirmed by the senate, serving staggered 6-year terms with central offices in Helena and trials held in Billings, Great Falls, and Missoula

Grants jurisdiction over constitutional challenges to legislation and ballot initiatives, land use permit disputes (excluding local zoning), and business/commercial cases exceeding $80,000 including contract breaches, mergers, securities, trade secrets, and shareholder actions

Requires cases to be resolved within 150 days of filing unless placed on an extended calendar for complex matters, with rules emphasizing alternative dispute resolution, electronic filing, and streamlined procedures

Compensates judges at 20% above Montana Supreme Court associate justice salary, with appeals going first to the full chancery court en banc and then to the Montana Supreme Court

Effective July 1, 2025, with initial judges selected within 90 days and initial terms staggered to end January 1, 2027, 2029, and 2031