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Bill

LC 4230

Create a government evidence and impact commission

2025 Regular Session

Montana bill proposes establishing a government evidence and impact commission to systematically evaluate state program effectiveness and taxpayer resource use.

(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
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Bill Summary · LC 4230

Legislative bill overview

LC 4230 proposes creating a government evidence and impact commission in Montana, though the bill text itself is not yet finalized (still in drafting stages as of March 2025). Based on the title, the commission would likely be tasked with evaluating state government programs and policies using evidence-based methodology to assess their effectiveness and outcomes.

Why is this important

Such a commission could improve governmental accountability by systematically measuring whether programs achieve their intended goals and whether taxpayer resources are being used efficiently. Evidence-based evaluation is increasingly used by states to inform budget decisions and identify which policies should be expanded, modified, or eliminated.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and scope creep: Questions about the commission's budget, staffing, and whether it duplicates existing oversight functions (legislative auditor, inspector general, etc.)
  • Political influence on evaluation: Concerns about whether evaluation criteria and findings could be influenced by partisan interests rather than remaining objectively scientific
  • Implementation timeline: Uncertainty about how quickly the commission could conduct meaningful evaluations and whether recommendations would be binding on agencies or merely advisory

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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