Immigration

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 329: Require employers to use e-verify for employment eligibility

SB 329 requires Montana employers with more than 50 employees to use the federal e-Verify system to confirm new hires' work authorization within three business days of hiring. It mandates employers to register for e-Verify, submit employee data for verification, and maintain records for three years or the duration of employment. Employers who fail to verify or employ unauthorized workers face fines up to $5,000 per violation, enforced by the Attorney General through investigations and potential license suspension. The bill exempts employers who hired staff before October 1, 2025, and those already complying with federal verification laws, while prohibiting local governments from blocking enforcement.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates employer use of federal e-Verify for work authorization checks, increasing state enforcement of immigration status.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Immigration

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 361: Provide funding to school districts for English language learners

House Bill 361 sought to establish state funding for school districts serving English language learners and provide professional stipends for their teachers. It proposed state matching funds for public school districts that receive federal subgrants for programs supporting students with limited English proficiency. The bill also aimed to provide annual stipends of up to $500 for qualified teachers holding specific certifications in English as a Second Language or culturally and linguistically diverse education. Teachers meeting these qualifications and working in high-poverty or impacted schools could receive an enhanced stipend of up to $1,000, with both the state and school districts contributing to these payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funding for ELL programs and teacher stipends under school finance appropriations, directly advancing budgetary support for education services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state funding for ESL programs and $500 teacher stipends, directly advancing educational support for language learners and teachers in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFunds ELL programs, directly supporting immigrant students' educational access and integration, aligning with 'provides immigrant services' indicator.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Immigration

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 469: Revise the exemption for out-of-state driver's licenses

HB 469 revises state law regarding the recognition of out-of-state driver's licenses for non-residents operating motor vehicles. The bill clarifies that a non-resident's license is not valid if it belongs to a class of licenses issued exclusively to individuals unlawfully present in the United States. It mandates the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Justice to establish rules for identifying and classifying these specific out-of-state licenses.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts driver's license access for undocumented immigrants by invalidating out-of-state licenses issued to unlawfully present individuals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Immigration

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 896: Prohibit harboring or assisting illegal aliens

HB 896 aimed to expand Montana's obstructing justice laws by redefining who is considered "an offender." Under this bill, "an offender" would include individuals who have entered the United States unlawfully or have not complied with their immigration status conditions. Consequently, a person could be charged with obstructing justice for knowingly harboring, assisting, or preventing the discovery or apprehension of such individuals. The bill also included a $500 appropriation to the Department of Justice to notify local law enforcement agencies and county attorneys about these new requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by redefining 'obstructing justice' to include harboring undocumented immigrants, increasing penalties without reform focus.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes harboring undocumented immigrants, expanding state enforcement against them under obstructing justice laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Immigration

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 709: Create the crime of human smuggling

HB 709 sought to establish the crime of "human smuggling" in Montana, targeting individuals and entities who knowingly transport or harbor people who have unlawfully entered the United States without federal inspection. Individuals convicted of this crime would face penalties including imprisonment, a substantial fine, or both. Entities found guilty would lose their eligibility for certain state tax exemptions. Additionally, the bill included provisions for the criminal forfeiture of property, such as vehicles and funds, if used in or derived from the crime of human smuggling.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new crime of human smuggling, expanding criminalization without reform elements per indicators.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes transporting/harboring undocumented immigrants with penalties, increasing state enforcement against activities aiding undocumented individuals, directly opposing immigrant protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Immigration

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signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 91: Require citizenship marker on driver's license and identification cards

SB 91 requires driver's licenses and identification cards issued in Montana to display an individual's U.S. citizenship status. Beginning January 1, 2026, an image of an eagle will be included on these cards for applicants who are United States citizens. This change affects all U.S. citizens applying for or renewing a driver's license or identification card in Montana.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires citizenship marker on IDs, restricting non-citizens' access to state-issued identification services and enabling potential enforcement actions.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Immigration

signed · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HB 226: Provide for a legal employment and government accountability law

House Bill 226, titled the "Legal Employment and Government Accountability Law," requires employers to verify the legal work authorization of all employees before they start working. Employers must use either the federal E-Verify program or a completed Form I-9 with supporting documents to confirm eligibility. The Department of Labor and Industry is authorized to enforce this law through investigations, audits, and rulemaking. Non-compliance can lead to civil penalties, including fines for each individual employed in violation and potential suspension of business licenses for repeat offenses. A dedicated state special revenue fund will collect these penalties to support the law's implementation and administration.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires employer verification of legal work status via E-Verify/I-9, restricting unauthorized employment access - clear immigration enforcement measure95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Immigration

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 278: Require peace officer to check and report immigration status during lawful stop

HB 278 requires peace officers, during a lawful investigative stop, to make a reasonable attempt to determine a person's immigration status, unless it is impractical or would hinder an investigation. If the officer determines the person is not lawfully present in the United States, the bill mandates that this information be reported to a federal immigration agency. This affects peace officers by adding new duties during stops and impacts individuals who are lawfully stopped, as their immigration status may now be checked and reported.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates state officers to check/report immigration status to federal agencies, increasing state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement per bill language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Immigration

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 214: Provide for prosecution of state crimes for persons subject to federal immigration detention

HB 214 allows Montana to prosecute individuals for state criminal offenses even if they are in federal immigration detention for immigration violations. It directly affects people detained under federal immigration authority who commit crimes in Montana. The bill's key provision permits state prosecutors to initiate criminal cases against these individuals and requires Montana to hold them until their state trial concludes before transferring them to federal custody. This law, signed by the governor on April 7, 2025, amends state procedures to coordinate state criminal proceedings with federal immigration processes.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationAllows Montana to prosecute immigrants in federal detention for state crimes, increasing state-level immigration enforcement and mandating state custody during trials.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Immigration