Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 13. ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 27. STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUES

Part 2. Preparation and Submission ofStatewide Ballot Issues

Filing Fee

13-27-215. Filing fee. (1) A proponent of a statutory initiative, a statutory referendum, a constitutional initiative, or a constitutional convention initiative shall include a nonrefundable filing fee of $3,700 per submitted proposal at the time of submittal to the secretary of state.

(2) The fee must be deposited in an account to the credit of the secretary of state in accordance with 2-15-405(4). The secretary of state's office shall retain $700, and distribute $2,000 to the legislative services division and $1,000 to the department of justice to help defray the costs of review by those offices.

(3) A proponent may seek a waiver from the fee required in subsection (6)(a) by demonstrating a financial inability to pay without substantial hardship. If a proponent is granted a fee waiver and later financial disclosure forms required by 13-37-225 show financial ability to pay the fee, the proponent is required to pay the fee at that time. If the proponent still fails to pay the fee, a penalty of up to three times the amount of the submission fee may be assessed.

(4) The secretary of state may adopt rules to provide for the administration of this section.

History: En. Sec. 4(6), Ch. 647, L. 2023.