_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING SPEED LIMIT LAWS; INCREASING DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME SPEED LIMITS ON SECONDARY HIGHWAYS THAT HAVE BEEN EXPANDED TO FOUR LANES; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AMENDING SECTION 61-8-303, MCA; and PROVIDING an effective date."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 61-8-303, MCA, is amended to read:

"61-8-303. Speed restrictions. (1) Except as provided in 61-8-309, 61-8-310, and 61-8-312, the speed limit for vehicles traveling:

(a)        on an interstate highway outside an urbanized area of 50,000 population or more is 80 miles an hour at all times and the speed limit for vehicles traveling on interstate highways within an urbanized area of 50,000 population or more is 65 miles an hour at all times;

(b)        on any portion of a secondary highway that has been expanded to four lanes and that is at least 15 miles long is 75 miles an hour during the daytime and 70 miles an hour during the nighttime;

(b)(c)    on any other public highway of this state is 70 miles an hour during the daytime and 65 miles an hour during the nighttime;

(c)(d)    in an urban district is 25 miles an hour.

(2)        A vehicle subject to the speed limits imposed in subsection (1) may exceed the speed limits imposed in subsection (1) by 10 miles an hour in order to overtake and pass a vehicle and return safely to the right-hand lane under the following circumstances:

(a)        while traveling on a two-lane road; and

(b)        in a designated passing zone.

(3)        Subject to the maximum speed limits set forth in subsection (1), a person shall operate a vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a reduced rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and character of traffic, visibility, weather, and roadway conditions.

(4)        Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with subsection (3), the limits specified in this section are the maximum lawful speeds allowed.

(5)        "Daytime" means from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. "Nighttime" means at any other hour.

(6)        The speed limits set forth in this section may be altered by the transportation commission or a local authority as authorized in 61-8-309, 61-8-310, 61-8-313, and 61-8-314."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Appropriation. There is appropriated $10,000 from the highway nonrestricted account established in 15-70-125 to the department of transportation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, for the placement of signs at affected locations.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.