Provide that legislative bill drafting files are public records

SB 408 requires Montana legislative bill drafting files to be treated as public records under existing state law, making them accessible to the public upon request. The bill defines these files to include draft versions of bills, research materials, legal analyses, and all communications between bill drafters, legislators, and third parties. It directly affects Montanans seeking transparency in lawmaking by providing access to the behind-the-scenes development of legislation. The key provision mandates that such files - previously not consistently public - must be disclosed in the same manner as other public records, with immediate effectiveness upon passage.