Establishing a Montana trade office in Israel

Montana's LC 3618 would create a state-run trade office in Israel to promote economic partnerships between Montana businesses and Israeli companies. The office, staffed by at least one person, aims to boost trade in key Montana-aligned sectors like agriculture (pulse crops, meats), technology (photonics, quantum computing), and cultural exchanges. It allocates $500,000 from the general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium, with the office terminating on June 30, 2033. The bill explicitly states the office is for promotional purposes only, not to regulate commerce, and seeks to strengthen economic ties with Israel as a global leader in relevant industries.