LC 1389 Legislature · 2025 Regular Session

Provide that legislative bill drafting files are public records

This bill makes legislative bill drafting files public records that must be released upon request, affecting the Montana Legislature and the public seeking government transparency. The legislation defines these files to include draft versions of bills, research materials, legal analyses, and communications between legislators and bill drafters, while protecting individual legislators' private writings and communications with their personal staff from disclosure. The bill clarifies that while the Speech or Debate clause protects legislators from prosecution for their legislative acts, it does not prevent the disclosure of bill drafting files under public records laws. Additionally, the law states that a legislator waives privacy protections by sharing documents or communications with anyone other than their personal staff.
Bill status introduced 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Nov 14, 2024 Last action Jan 15, 2025
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