The first step to using the LAWS Preference List service is getting an account setup with the Montana Legislative Service Division. If you have not already setup an account, and received your user name and password you must do so. Go to the Preference List Information Page to learn how to setup your account.
With your Preference List account information (user name and password) in hand you are ready to use your account.
Note: As stated on the Preference List Information Page your browser must support JavaScript. See the terms of service on that page for details.
Logging on to Your Account
The Preference List Portion of LAWS is a group of web pages that are not available to non-Preference List users. You can get to these pages from the LAWS system by selecting the Preference List Searching link from the Lookup Bill Information Page.
When you first click on the link you will get a logon box. Enter your User Name and Password then click OK. Your browser will display the main Preference List page. If you have not yet created any preference lists, the page will display only your name, and a link to Create a New Preference List.
You need to logon only once per session while you are using Preference List related pages. However, there is a timeout function that will require you to logon again if you do not actively use the system.
Creating a New Preference List
Creating a new Preference list requires only a few steps. From the main Preference Lists page click on the "Create a new Preference List" link. The Add Preference List page will appear. Enter a name for your preference list in the text box. Click on the "Insert" button. The page will update, and you should see the word: Success! Congratulations! You have now created a preference list. Click on the "Return to Preference Lists" link, then read below to learn how to add bills to your list.
Adding Bills to a Preference List
Note: You must know the bill number, or bill draft number of a bill before you can add it to a Preference List. You can search, using the LAWS system, to locate bill numbers if you do not know them.
Once you have created a Preference List you can add bills to it at any time. From the main Preference Lists page, click on the name of the list you want to add bills to. The Update Preference List page will display. On that page select the link, "Add a Bill/Bill Draft to the Preference List." You will then see the Add Bill to Preference List page. Enter a bill number OR a bill draft number in the appropriate box, then click on the "Insert" button. The examples on the page show the correct format for entering a bill number or bill draft number. If the bill was located you will see: Success! Select the "Return to Preference List" link, and you will see your bill in the bills list. If the bill could not be found you will receive an error message; verify that you used the correct format and/or bill number. Repeat this process to add as many bills as you wish.
You can return to an existing list to add additional bills at any time.
Viewing Bills on Your Preference List(s)
Once you have created a list, and added bills to it as described above, you have done all the work, and you're now ready for the payoff!
From the main Preference Lists page, there is a link "Display Status" immediately to the right of the list name(s). Select the link, and the Bill Search Results page will display with the current status of all of the bills on your list. Introduced bills, if any, are on the top section of the page, and unintroduced bills, if any, are on the lower section. You can click on a bill or bill draft number to get the Detailed Bill Information.
Here's a neat tip: When viewing the Bill Search Results page (where your entire list of bills is displayed) you can use your browser's "bookmark" or "favorites" function to bookmark the page. Then, any time you want to view your list you can go directly to it from your bookmark!
Removing Bills from Your Preference List(s)
If you want to remove a bill(s) from a list you can quite easily. From the main Preference Lists page click on the name of the list you wish to remove bills from. The Update Preference List page will display. From the table that shows the Bills Currently in the List, click on the "Delete" link for the bill you want to remove. The Maintain Preference List page appears with the bill you selected for deletion displayed. If you are certain this is the bill you want to remove, click on the "Delete" button. You will receive confirmation of the delete: Success!
Return to the Preference List to delete more bills if desired.
