The Bozeman City Study Commission voted 4 to 1 on May 27 to add "human rights" to the charter preamble's list of core values, positioning it between "representative democracy" and "professional management." Commissioner Jan Strout argued that human rights form the framework of Montana's Constitution and are referenced throughout the charter, while Commissioner Carson Taylor said the entire document relates to human rights protection. Commissioner Deanna Campbell opposed the addition, calling it redundant given existing references to state law, but Commissioners Barb Cestero and Becky Franks supported the change. The vote marked the continuation of a meeting begun May 20, with commissioners working through a series of proposed amendments to the draft charter.
The commission also refined eligibility requirements for city office, approving language requiring candidates to be registered voters whose "principal residence" is in Bozeman. The change restores language from the current charter and addresses concerns raised by former commissioner Brian Close about preventing people from claiming false residency to run for office. Campbell suggested using "domiciled" instead, but the commission voted unanimously to allow City Attorney Greg Sullivan to determine which term provides clearer legal protection. The commission further tightened neighborhood association rules, requiring that a majority of each association's leadership be neighborhood residents while allowing individual participation from anyone affected by local decisions.
Other approved amendments included adding "responsive" to government descriptions, removing "strong political" before "leadership" in the preamble, affirming municipal court independence with a qualifier limiting it to judicial authority, and broadening public engagement language by striking "participatory budgeting" as a specific mandate. The commission meets June 4 to review the full draft report before a public hearing June 18.