Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

HELENA, Mont.— The Montana State Legislature has scheduled a meeting of the Law and Justice Interim Committee to discuss proposed Constitutional Initiative 14 in accordance with Montana law. The meeting will include public participation and lawmakers will vote whether to support or oppose the placement of the proposed initiative on the 2024 general election ballot.

Montana Code Annotated 13-27-228 requires the Legislature to provide the outcome of its vote to the Secretary of State within 14 days of receiving the initiative from the Secretary. Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen provided copies of the initiative documents to the Legislature this morning in compliance with Senate President Jason Ellsworth's subpoena, starting that 14 day clock.

"I thank Secretary Jacobsen for complying with her subpoena and for consistently recognizing the Legislature's role in the ballot initiative process," said Ellsworth. "The Montana Supreme Court seems determined to cut the Legislature and public comment out of the process and give this initiative special treatment over all other initiatives that have been proposed in the past three years. Having two tiers of justice in this state, where the Supreme Court's favored parties and political outcomes get preferential treatment, is shameful."

The committee will meet to discuss the initiative on April 18th at 9:00AM over Zoom. Montanans are invited and encouraged to provide their comments about the initiative at that meeting.

"The Montana Supreme Court can say what it wants to say, but the Legislature is proceeding with our normal public process on the initiative," said Rep. Amy Regier, the chair of the Law and Justice Interim Committee. "We are treating this proposed ballot initiative exactly the same as all other initiatives, which is the only fair and just thing to do."