Montana Title 13. Elections § 13-27-105. Effective date of statewide initiative and statewide referendum issues

(1) Unless the petition states otherwise, a statutory initiative or constitutional convention initiative approved by the people is effective on October 1 following approval. If a statutory initiative delegates rulemaking authority, it is effective no sooner than October 1 following approval.

(2) A constitutional initiative or constitutional referendum that is approved by the people is effective on July 1 following approval unless the constitutional initiative or constitutional referendum provides otherwise.

(3) Unless specifically provided by the legislature in an act referred by it to the people or until suspended by a petition signed by at least 15% of the qualified electors in a majority of the legislative representative districts, an act referred to the people is in effect as provided by law until it is approved or rejected at the election. An act that is rejected is repealed effective the date the result of the canvass is filed by the secretary of state under 13-27-503. An act referred to the people that was in effect at the time of the election and is approved by the people remains in effect. An act that was suspended by a petition and is approved by the people is effective the date the result of the canvass is filed by the secretary of state under 13-27-503. An act referred by the legislature that contains an effective date following the election becomes effective on that date if approved by the people. An act that provides no effective date and whose substantive provisions were delayed by the legislature pending approval at an election and that is approved is effective October 1 following the election.