SB 511 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revising laws related to litigation financing

Senate Bill 511 revises the state's laws related to litigation financing. It amends the existing Litigation Financing Transparency and Consumer Protection Act and creates a new Foreign Investment in Litigation Financing Act. The bill prohibits certain foreign entities from providing litigation funding and requires foreign persons involved in such financing to register and comply with transparency rules. Additionally, it updates various definitions concerning consumers, legal claims, and litigation financing contracts.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0511_X(3).pdf SB0511_X(4).pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to remove a redundant closing period and to update the definition of 'Person' to include entities. A new definition for 'Proprietary information' was added, specifically covering documents received during legal claims that hold economic or commercial value.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded by adding a specific category of information (proprietary information obtained in legal claims) to the list of protected items.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'Person' was updated to explicitly include 'an entity' alongside an individual, clarifying that organizations are covered.

A new definition for 'Proprietary information' was created to include documents or records received during legal claims that have economic or commercial value.

TECHNICAL

A redundant closing quotation mark and period were removed from the end of the bill text.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 7, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

3415
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Mar 7, 2025
D Democratic18
2 Yea 15 Nay 1
83% Nay
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (77-22-1)
house
Mar 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (34-15-1)
senate
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Greg Hertz
Greg Hertz
RRepublican
MT
7