SB 212 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Creating the Right to Compute Act and requiring shutdowns of AI controlled critical infrastructure

SB 212, known as the "Right to Compute Act," generally revises laws related to technology. It establishes a fundamental right for individuals to own and use computational resources, asserting that government restrictions on this right must be limited and narrowly tailored to a compelling public interest. The bill also requires deployers of critical artificial intelligence systems that control critical infrastructure facilities to develop a risk management policy. This affects individuals and entities using technology, as well as those responsible for managing AI in essential services.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Signed Apr 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0212_2(11).pdf SB0212_X.pdf · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was revised to remove language requiring specific 'shutdown capabilities' for AI systems, replacing it with a mandate for deployers to create a risk management policy based on national standards. The definitions were updated to clarify that 'critical artificial intelligence' excludes systems performing narrow procedural tasks or improving past human work, while the preemption clause was expanded to explicitly state that the bill does not override federal laws.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from requiring a hard 'shutdown' mechanism for AI-controlled infrastructure to requiring a risk management policy, and the definition of 'critical AI' was narrowed to exclude routine or preparatory tasks.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific requirement for deployers to ensure the capability to disable AI control and revert to human control within a reasonable time.

Changed the requirement from a 'shutdown capability' to developing a 'risk management policy' that considers guidance from the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and ISO/IEC 42001 standards.

DEFINITION

Added explicit exclusions to the definition of 'critical artificial intelligence,' stating it does not include systems intended for narrow procedural tasks, improving past human activities, or detecting decision-making patterns.

Reorganized the definitions section to clearly list exclusions for 'critical artificial intelligence' alongside the main definition.

Added a specific exclusion for antifraud, antimalware, antivirus, calculator, cybersecurity, database, data storage, firewall, and other utility systems from the definition of critical AI.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded the preemption clause to explicitly state that the bill cannot be used to preempt federal laws.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 1, 2025 · House Mar 28, 2025

How they voted

500
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 1, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 16, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Mar 28, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (61-38-1)
house
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 1, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0)
senate
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Daniel Zolnikov
Daniel Zolnikov
RRepublican
MT
22