SB 150 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise alcohol and tobacco laws

SB 150 creates a new "cigar bar room" license endorsement for existing alcohol licensees that also hold gambling licenses (e.g., casinos or gaming venues). It allows premium cigar smoking only in a designated, enclosed area with strict requirements: cigars must meet specific handmade criteria (no filters, 100% tobacco), the venue must generate at least 10% of annual revenue from cigar sales, and no other tobacco/vaping products may be smoked or sold there. The designated area must have proper ventilation, be separate from nonsmoking zones, and exclude minors under 21. The bill also exempts these cigar rooms from standard clean indoor air laws and requires a 2026 study on Montana’s gaming industry.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action May 23, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0150_1(9).pdf → SB0150_2.pdf · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to change the license from a 'Cigar Bar' to a 'Cigar Bar Room' and to restrict smoking to 'Premium Cigars' only. The new version removes the requirement for a separate freestanding structure, allowing cigar rooms to exist within larger establishments, while adding strict rules that employees cannot enter the smoking area and that video gambling machines are prohibited inside it. The annual fee was reduced from $200 to $100, and a new requirement mandates a study on the gaming industry's impact.

Scope change

The scope expanded from requiring a dedicated, isolated building to allowing a designated enclosed room within a larger licensed premises, provided specific separation and monitoring rules are met.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the license name from 'Cigar Bar' to 'Cigar Bar Room' and removed the requirement that the establishment must be a freestanding structure.

DEFINITION

Narrowed the definition of allowed products from general 'cigars' to specifically 'Premium Cigars' with stricter manufacturing standards.

REQUIREMENT

Added new operational restrictions prohibiting employees from entering the smoking area while patrons are smoking and banning video gambling machines inside the room.

Added a mandate for the Department of Justice to conduct a study on the gaming industry's impact.

FISCAL

Reduced the annual license endorsement fee from $200 to $100.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2025 · House Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

29–21

Passed

Total votes 50

Feb 26, 2025

D Democratic18

5 Yea 13 Nay

72% Nay

R Republican32

24 Yea 8 Nay

75% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 22, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (51-49)

house

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Committee Report - (H) Business and Labor

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Business and Labor

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Business and Labor

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (29-21)

senate

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

(S) Committee Report - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

(S) Introduced

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors