Clarify government employee privacy rights
HB 697 clarifies that public employees in Montana do not have an expectation of privacy in electronic communications sent or received through systems provided and managed by their public agency. This means that any communications, including personal ones, made using public agency equipment are subject to public records laws and agency policies. As a result, public agencies would not be required to review these communications for privacy implications when responding to public information requests.
Bill status
died
2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Failed
Mar 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 24, 2025
Last action May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
LC3431.pdf
→
HB0697_1.pdf
·
1 edit
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from LC 3431 to HB 697 and updated with a new title format. The substantive policy content regarding public employee communications and privacy remains unchanged.
TECHNICAL
Bill number changed from LC 3431 to HB 697 with updated header formatting and authorized print version designation.
Floor votes · House Mar 6, 2025
How they voted
40–59
Failed · 1 other
Total votes 100
Mar 6, 2025
D
Democratic42
95% Nay
R
Republican58
65% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Mar 6, 2025
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (40-59-1)
house
Mar 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
lower
Mar 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bill Mercer
RRepublican
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