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LC 1159

Referendum on state public health policy

2025 Regular Session

Died Montana bill would have created voter referendum process for determining state public health policies, potentially bypassing expert and legislative decision-making.

(LC) Draft Died in Process
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Bill Summary · LC 1159

Legislative bill overview

LC 1159 is a draft bill from Montana that would establish a referendum mechanism allowing state voters to directly decide on public health policy matters. The bill was assigned to a drafter in November 2024 but died in the legislative process in May 2025 without advancing to formal introduction.

Why is this important

Direct democracy mechanisms like referendums shift health policy decision-making from elected officials and health experts to the general voting population. This could significantly alter how Montana approaches disease prevention, vaccination requirements, emergency health declarations, and other public health measures—potentially bypassing traditional legislative and administrative processes.

Potential points of contention

  • Expertise vs. democracy: Public health decisions often require scientific and medical expertise; referendums may enable voters to override evidence-based recommendations
  • Emergency response delays: Referendums take time to organize and conduct, potentially hampering rapid response to disease outbreaks or health crises
  • Scope ambiguity: Unclear which public health policies would qualify for referendum (all policies? only certain types?) and whether this could override federal health requirements or professional licensing standards
  • Polarization risk: Health policy referendums can become highly partisan and contentious, potentially undermining public trust in health institutions regardless of referendum outcome

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

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