Immigration

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 462: Generally revise department of motor vehicles laws

SB 462 proposes changes to Montana's driver licensing laws. It would lower the minimum age for restricted licenses from 16 to 15 (with specific conditions), allow counties to request monthly driver examinations instead of requiring them monthly statewide, and add a requirement for the DMV to verify non-citizens' lawful U.S. presence using federal systems. The bill directly affects Montana residents seeking licenses, particularly teens, non-citizens, and local counties managing exam scheduling. These changes were proposed but did not become law, as the bill died in committee in May 2025.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill mandates DMV to verify non-citizens' lawful presence via federal systems, requiring state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 26, 2025

LC 2019: Prohibit harboring or assisting illegal aliens

This bill (LC 2019) amends Montana’s obstructing justice law to specifically include individuals who entered the U.S. unlawfully or violated immigration conditions as "offenders." It makes it a crime to knowingly harbor, assist, or provide resources to such individuals, with penalties ranging from fines to up to 10 years in prison for felony violations. The law directly affects people who offer shelter, transportation, or other aid to those with immigration status violations. A $500 appropriation funds the Department of Justice to notify law enforcement about the new requirements. The bill focuses on state-level enforcement of existing immigration status violations, not on creating new immigration policies.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offenses for harboring undocumented immigrants with prison terms, directly increasing penalties and broadening criminal law scope per 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationCriminalizes harboring undocumented immigrants with up to 10-year prison terms, restricting aid and increasing state enforcement against immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sanctuary Policies

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 29, 2025

LC 2020: Generally revise laws related to illegal aliens

This Montana bill requires certain professionals and officials - including healthcare workers, school staff, social workers, law enforcement, and clergy (with limited exceptions) - to report individuals they know are not lawfully present in the U.S. to the Montana Department of Justice. It specifies required report details (e.g., individual’s name, source of knowledge) and mandates audio recording of phone reports while keeping reporters’ identities confidential. The Department of Justice may share reported information with federal immigration agencies, and the bill appropriates $500 for a reporting website and physical forms. It directly affects the listed professionals who must comply with reporting obligations, not the undocumented individuals themselves.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates reporting of undocumented individuals to state authorities, increasing enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · Montana · Legislature May 24, 2025

LC 1252: Generally revise laws related to illegal undocumented alien employment

This bill (LC 1252) proposed revisions to state laws concerning employment of undocumented immigrants. It did not become law, as it died in the legislative process on May 24, 2025, after being drafted but not advanced further. The bill's title indicates it aimed to change regulations around unauthorized employment, but no specific provisions or affected groups were detailed in the provided context. Since it never passed, it did not implement any policy changes.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill title targets 'illegal undocumented alien employment' with no pro-immigrant indicators, implying restrictive enforcement on undocumented worker access.80% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill targets restrictions on undocumented workers' employment, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of limiting employment access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization Child Labor Gig Economy Labor Standards

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3133: Prohibit state and local taxes from funding attorneys for removable aliens

Bill LC 3133 would have prohibited state and local governments from using tax revenue to pay for legal representation for non-citizens facing deportation (referred to as "removable aliens" in immigration law). This bill would have directly affected state/local budgets by restricting how public funds could be allocated and limited legal services available to non-citizens in deportation proceedings. The key provision required state and local governments to exclude funding for such attorneys from all budgets and spending plans. However, the bill did not advance beyond the drafting stage and died in the legislative process on May 27, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly prohibits using tax revenue for legal services of removable aliens, defunding a specific program by restricting budget allocation for immigration-related legal representation.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts legal representation for non-citizens facing deportation, limiting access to due process and immigrant protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3136: Prohibit business licenses/contracts/grants for NGO’s transporting or assisting illegal aliens

LC 3136 would have prohibited state government from issuing business licenses, contracts, or grants to nonprofit organizations that transport or assist undocumented immigrants. It directly affected nonprofit groups providing immigration-related services, such as legal aid or transportation support. The bill aimed to cut off state funding for such organizations by banning government financial agreements with them. However, the bill never advanced beyond drafting and died in process on May 27, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill prohibits state funding for NGOs assisting undocumented immigrants, directly defunding immigration-related services and restricting access to support.90% confidence

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3137: Provide deportation from the state of Montana

Bill LC 3137, titled "Provide deportation from the state of Montana," was assigned to a drafter in December 2024 but died in process by May 2025. The bill's title is unclear and does not specify a mechanism for deportation, as deportation is typically a federal authority, not a state function. Since it did not advance beyond drafting, it did not become law or affect any policies or individuals.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill title "Provide deportation" explicitly references deportation, a core enforcement action restricting immigrant presence. Despite unclear mechanism and inaction, intent aligns with opposing immigrant protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2757: Require use of E-verify for employment

This bill (LC 2757) proposed requiring all employers in the state to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work authorization of new hires. It would have directly affected businesses of all sizes hiring employees, mandating electronic verification of immigration status instead of relying on paper I-9 forms alone. The key provision would have required employers to check all new employees against federal databases before hiring. However, the bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as it was placed "On Hold" in December 2024 and later "Died in Process" in May 2025. No policy changes were enacted under this bill.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates E-Verify for all employers, requiring state-level cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, restricting undocumented workers' access to jobs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2914: Make returning after deportation a state crime

This bill (LC 2914) proposed making it a state crime for someone who has been deported to return to the state. It would have directly affected individuals previously deported from the state who re-entered. The bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage and died in process in May 2025, so it did not become law or affect anyone.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating a new state offense for re-entry after deportation, directly increasing penalties for a specific group without reform intent.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes re-entry after deportation, increasing state immigration enforcement and restricting immigrant movement directly.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 755: Prohibit ownership of private property within state by certain foreign individuals and entities

HB 755 sought to prohibit certain non-resident aliens and foreign entities from owning real property within the state. The bill defined "alien" as any person not a U.S. citizen or national and not a resident of the state, and "foreign entity" as one organized or principally based in a foreign country. If an affected individual or entity owned property, they would be required to divest within six months, after which the property could be sold at public auction. The Attorney General or county attorney would have been able to enforce these provisions, which were set to apply to property purchased on or after January 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts property ownership for non-resident aliens and foreign entities, limiting immigrant protections as defined by bill's scope.95% confidence

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