Technology

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 538: Revise 911 emergency telephone system laws

HB 538 revises state laws governing the 9-1-1 emergency telephone system. It expands the 9-1-1 advisory council by one member and clarifies its role in advising the department on fee allocation, grants, and statewide planning. The bill updates the department's duties, including administering 9-1-1 funds, maintaining a statewide plan for current and next-generation technologies, and monitoring expenditures by local and tribal governments operating public safety answering points. It also directs the department to adopt rules for fund distribution, grant awards, and technology standards to ensure effective 9-1-1 services across the state.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyDirects statewide planning for next-generation 911 technologies, advancing emergency system infrastructure within communications/IT framework.85% confidence

Tags Public Safety

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 24, 2025

LC 982: Revise taxation of class 17 property

This bill revises Montana's property tax rules for dedicated communications infrastructure, specifically fiber optic and coaxial cable networks. It provides a 5-year tax exemption for such infrastructure installed after July 1, 2021, with the exemption phasing out over 10 years (20% per year). Telecom companies installing qualifying infrastructure must reinvest tax savings into new Montana fiber/cable installations within 2 years to maintain the exemption. Federally funded projects under the American Rescue Plan Act are excluded from this tax benefit.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill provides tax exemption for telecom infrastructure, reducing state tax revenue (weakening tax collection) without direct public funding link.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides tax incentives for telecom infrastructure expansion (fiber/coaxial networks), requiring reinvestment to boost internet access infrastructure in Montana.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Tax Incentives Broadband Access Telecommunications

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 24, 2025

LC 2253: Provide statewide access to a K-12 digital toolkit

This bill appropriates $1.1 million to Montana's Office of Public Instruction and $750,000 to the Department of Labor and Industry for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It funds a statewide K-12 digital toolkit containing state standards-aligned instructional materials across all subjects, including career and technical education resources linked to Montana industry partners. The toolkit aims to provide consistent digital learning tools to all public K-12 schools statewide, with funding intended as an ongoing base for future legislative sessions. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.85M for K-12 digital toolkit via state appropriations, directly funding public education programs through budgetary allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds $1.85M for statewide K-12 digital toolkit with standards-aligned instructional materials, expanding consistent digital learning access across all public schools per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds statewide K-12 digital toolkit ($1.85M) for consistent digital learning tools across all schools, directly promoting technology access and digital equity in education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 2604: Establish the Montana data center development act

This bill establishes the Montana Data Center Development Act to clarify rules for large electricity customers, primarily affecting data centers and other major energy users requiring over 5,000 kilowatts of demand. It prohibits the Public Service Commission from blocking regulated utilities from serving new large customers (like data centers) and clarifies that utilities must demonstrate long-term service won't harm other customers before providing power. The bill amends Montana law to ensure data center development isn't hindered by regulatory uncertainty, while maintaining the Commission's role in setting tariffs and oversight. It directly impacts how utilities serve large commercial and industrial customers seeking reliable, affordable power.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill removes barriers for data center development (technology infrastructure) by requiring utilities to serve large energy customers, directly enabling technology sector growth without addressing privacy/cybersecurity.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 4173: Revise taxation of of certain telecommunications property

Montana bill LC 4173 revises property tax rules to exempt certain telecommunications infrastructure from taxation. It directly affects rural telecommunications providers serving rural areas or communities with 1,200 residents or fewer, including those operating in no more than three counties. The bill creates a 5-year tax exemption for newly installed fiber optic or coaxial cable placed in service after July 1, 2021, requiring owners to reinvest tax savings into new Montana infrastructure within two years. After 5 years, the exemption phases out gradually over 10 years, ending at full taxable value.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts telecom infrastructure from property tax, reducing state revenue and weakening tax base for budget purposes.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExempts rural telecom infrastructure from property tax to incentivize fiber/coaxial network investment, expanding internet access in underserved areas.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Tax Incentives Broadband Access Telecommunications

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 28, 2025

LC 3686: Generally revise social media laws for minors

This bill, Montana's Social Media Youth Protection Act (LC 3686), requires social media companies to implement three key safeguards for minors under 18. First, companies must use an "age-assurance system" with at least 95% accuracy to identify minors. Second, they must obtain parental consent for minors' data privacy settings and provide tools for parents to monitor accounts. Third, companies must offer supervisory features for minor account holders to help prevent excessive use linked to mental health risks, sleep disruption, and academic impacts. The law directly affects social media platforms operating in Montana and their minor users and parents.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires social media companies to implement age verification, parental consent, and monitoring tools for minors' data privacy, strengthening consumer protection regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Online Safety Social Media

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died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 3513: Generally revise data privacy laws - Agricultural data

This bill requires businesses collecting agricultural data (like crop yields, soil metrics, or GPS farm equipment data) to disclose their data practices to farmers upfront and provide opt-out options for data sales or sharing. Farmers can also request deletion of their data. Businesses must submit summarized, aggregated farm data to Montana's Department of Agriculture weekly (paying a $25 fee) and make this data publicly available for download. The law directly affects farmers whose data is collected and ag-tech companies handling such data, aiming to increase transparency and control over commercial agricultural information.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates transparency, opt-outs, and deletion for agricultural data, strengthening farmer privacy protections under data privacy laws.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 2220: Prohibiting warrantless surveillance in Montana by any law enforcement agency

Montana's LC 2220 would prohibit all law enforcement agencies (federal, state, and local) from monitoring people's movements, statements, or activities without a warrant or reasonable suspicion of a crime. It creates a new offense called "surveillance stalking" for officers who violate this rule, punishable by up to one year in prison or a $1,000 fine. The bill directly affects law enforcement practices and protects Montanans' privacy by requiring judicial oversight for surveillance. Key provisions mandate warrants or specific suspicion before monitoring, replacing current practices that allow warrantless surveillance. This bill aims to strengthen privacy rights through concrete legal standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits warrantless surveillance requiring judicial oversight, enhancing police accountability and protecting civil rights in criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prohibits warrantless surveillance requiring judicial oversight, directly advancing data privacy protections by preventing unauthorized monitoring of digital activities.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 344: Constitutional referendum on the ownership of biometric data

This bill proposed a constitutional referendum asking voters to decide whether biometric data (like fingerprints or facial scans) collected by government agencies belongs to individuals or the state. It would have directly affected all residents whose biometric data is collected for official purposes, such as identification or security systems. The key mechanism would have been a statewide vote to amend the state constitution to clarify ownership rights. However, the bill died in the legislative process in May 2025 and never became law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyClarifies individual ownership of biometric data, strengthening privacy protections in technology use per constitutional amendment95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 3571: Revise the tribal computer programming boost scholarship program

This bill (LC 3571) proposed revisions to an existing scholarship program supporting tribal students pursuing computer programming education. It aimed to update eligibility criteria or funding mechanisms for the "tribal computer programming boost scholarship," directly affecting enrolled tribal students and potentially tribal educational institutions. However, the bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as it was placed on hold and ultimately died in process on May 23, 2025. No policy changes were enacted, as the proposed revision did not become law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill revises scholarship program for tribal students pursuing computer programming education, directly funding and expanding access to higher education opportunities in tech fields.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds computer programming education for tribal students, promoting tech skills development and digital equity in technology.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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