[NFBMT] Legislative Alert: Upcoming Hearings you don't want to miss

Mon Mar 22 20:40:47 UTC 2021

Hello, fellow Montana Federationists.

The following are two bills with upcoming hearings. I apologize for not
getting this message out sooner; my computer was down for the week end and I
just got it back up.  

HB 406 Revise absentee and mail ballot laws (S) Hearing (s) State
Administration Monday, 03/22/2021 3pm room 335.  

Summary: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING THE MONTANA BALLOT INTERFERENCE
PROTECTION ACT; PROVIDING FOR BALLOT COLLECTION; REVISING EXCEPTIONS FOR
BALLOT COLLECTION; ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR BALLOT COLLECTION; REQUIRING
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAINTAIN REGISTRIES FOR BALLOT COLLECTION
REGISTRATION AND BALLOT COLLECTION AND CONVEYANCE; ESTABLISHING A PROCESS TO
REQUEST INFORMATION STORED IN REGISTRIES; REVISING PENALTIES FOR BALLOT
COLLECTION; REQUIRING IMPROPERLY COLLECTED BALLOTS BE TREATED AS PROVISIONAL
BALLOTS; PROVIDING THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITH RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDING
SECTIONS 13-35-703, 13-35-704, AND 13-35-705, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE."

You can read the bill at 

http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2021/billhtml/HB0406.htm

or listen to today's hearing at 3PM in room 335 at
http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en 

HB 643 Allowing a disabled voter to electronically return a ballot (H)
Hearing (H) State Administration 03/24/2021 9AM RM455.  

Summary: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC
TRANSMISSION OF A BALLOT BY A DISABLED ELECTOR; ALLOWING A DISABLED ELECTOR
TO RETURN A VOTED BALLOT USING AN ENCRYPTED ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; REQUIRING THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TO ADOPT ENCRYPTION AND SECURITY STANDARDS FOR AN
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; PROVIDING
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDING SECTION 13-13-246, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE."

You can read the bill at  

http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2021/billhtml/HB0643.htm

You still have time to register and testify for this bill, or at least phone
in or write in a comment.  It could be a game changer for us. 

Please call 406-444:4800 with your comments,  

Send a web message to a legislator or a committee
https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging

Or register and testify. https://leg.mt.gov/public-testimony

Legislative Meetings & Hearings are Streamed and Recorded.  You can hear them
live every day at   

http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en

or listen to the archived recording the next day at  

http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/20210104/-1

Thanks for your advocacy in advance.

Joy Breslauer, Advocacy and Public Policy Committee Chair 

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

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