SB 432 revises Montana's utility relocation laws by clarifying definitions related to infrastructure moving costs and expanding the scope of covered services. It specifically defines "cost of relocation" to exclude engineering expenses and broadens "utility" to include water/sewer systems, cable providers, and broadband services. This bill directly affects utilities needing to relocate infrastructure (like pipes or poles) for highway projects, ensuring clearer cost calculations and broader service coverage under state law.
SB 540 revises Montana's property tax rules for "class 17 property," specifically targeting dedicated telecommunications infrastructure like fiber optic and coaxial cable. It provides a 5-year tax exemption for new fiber/coaxial cable installations placed in service after July 1, 2021, with the exemption phasing out over 10 years (20% annually). To maintain the exemption, owners must reinvest the tax savings into new Montana cable installations within 2 years without passing costs to consumers. Federal-funded projects (e.g., under the American Rescue Plan) are excluded from the exemption, and owners must keep records for state review. The bill directly affects telecom infrastructure owners and operators in Montana.
HB 488 would allow Montana voters with disabilities to return their voted ballots electronically for federal elections using a secure, encrypted system approved by the Secretary of State. To use this option, voters must request an electronic ballot in writing, by email, or in person, and return the completed ballot with a signed affirmation by 8 p.m. on election day. The Secretary of State would establish security and encryption standards for the system, and the bill appropriates $10,000 to develop the technology. This change would apply only to federal primary and general elections beginning in 2026.
HB 364 proposes to update laws concerning student immunizations and exemptions in K-12 schools. It would require school governing authorities to submit written reports on student immunization and exemption data to state and local health departments. These reports must only contain deidentified or aggregate information, ensuring student privacy. The Department of Public Health and Human Services would determine the specific form and schedule for these reports.
SB 534 provides a property tax exemption for specific wireless infrastructure in Montana. This bill exempts qualifying wireless infrastructure, placed into service on or after the act's effective date, from property taxes for an initial period of five years. Following this, the exemption gradually phases out over the next five years, after which the property becomes fully taxable. To maintain the exemption, owners must reinvest the tax savings into new communication infrastructure within Montana, without charging those costs to consumers.
Senate Bill 413 creates the crime of "disclosing explicit synthetic media," also known as deepfakes, directly affecting individuals who create or share AI-generated content and protecting those falsely depicted. The bill makes it an offense to knowingly share synthetic media portraying an identifiable person engaged in sexual conduct or depicting intimate body parts without their consent, if it would cause substantial emotional distress. It also criminalizes disclosing such media with intent to harass or threaten, or possessing and threatening to disclose it for extortion. Penalties include fines and jail time, with increased penalties for repeat offenses or if the depicted person is under 18, though exceptions exist for reporting crimes, research, or legal proceedings.
SB 25 regulates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) generated content, specifically "deepfakes," in election communications within Montana. It prohibits individuals, political entities, and corporations from distributing deepfakes of candidates or political parties in election communications within 60 days before an election. This prohibition applies unless the communication includes a clear disclosure stating that the content has been significantly edited by AI and depicts false speech or conduct. The bill outlines specific formatting requirements for this disclosure across various media, including print, television, and internet communications. It also provides for injunctive relief, damages, and penalties for violations.
This bill, known as the "Financial Freedom and Innovation Act," revises state cryptocurrency laws. It prohibits state governing authorities from using or testing central bank digital currency, while explicitly permitting individuals and businesses to accept digital assets for payments and engage with blockchain protocols, such as operating nodes or staking. The bill also establishes certification requirements and sales limits for network token issuers to qualify for exemptions from state securities laws.
HB 122 revises existing right-of-way laws for utility lines on public roads, streets, and highways. It specifically expands the authorized utilities to include broadband lines and natural gas pipelines. This allows corporations and public bodies operating these services to install necessary infrastructure, such as lines, pipelines, posts, and piers, along public thoroughfares. The bill maintains the requirement that these installations must not inconvenience or endanger the public.
HB 631 revises student data privacy laws by amending the definition of "K-12 school purposes" in Section 20-7-1324, MCA. This change means that the existing data privacy protections for K-12 online applications will no longer apply to courses taken for postsecondary (college) credit. It also excludes work-based learning courses from these specific K-12 data privacy regulations. This bill aims to remove barriers to postsecondary opportunities by clarifying which educational activities fall under K-12 online application privacy rules.
