Technology

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 23, 2025

LC 65: Establish laws related to a digital public square

This bill prohibits businesses and entities from banning or censoring users on free online platforms, which it defines as digital public squares. It requires these platforms to allow users to assemble and express speech without restrictions like shadow banning, algorithmic suppression, or throttling, unless state or federal laws are violated. The law allows platforms to terminate access entirely but forbids them from creating community standards or contracts that restrict user speech or content. Violations could result in users suing for actual and punitive damages, while advertising remains permitted as an exception to the restrictions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects digital rights by preventing censorship and shadow banning on online platforms, enhancing user freedom of expression and digital equity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 3, 2025

LC 4356: Revise laws related to privacy in mental health digital service

This bill updates Montana laws to protect the privacy of individuals using digital mental health services like mobile apps and websites. It requires these platforms to follow the same confidentiality rules that currently apply to traditional healthcare providers when handling personal health information. The legislation also establishes legal penalties for unauthorized data sharing and allows individuals to seek remedies if their information is improperly disclosed. Additionally, the bill defines what qualifies as a mental health digital service, specifically covering apps or websites that collect mental health data and facilitate related services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens patient privacy protections for digital mental health services, ensuring confidentiality standards match traditional healthcare and establishing penalties for unauthorized data sharing.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens data privacy protections for digital mental health services, requiring platforms to follow healthcare confidentiality rules and establishing penalties for unauthorized data sharing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 4, 2025

LC 299: Generally revise laws related to creation of profitable family video content featuring minor children

This bill establishes the Child Digital Protection Act in Montana to require content creators who profit from videos featuring their minor children to set aside a portion of earnings in a trust for those children. The law applies when creators earn at least $0.10 per view and at least 30% of their compensated content includes their minor children's likenesses, names, or photographs. When these thresholds are met, the creator must deposit a percentage of gross earnings into a trust that the child can access upon turning 18. The bill also provides minors with the right to request content removal and creates a private right of action for enforcement. This legislation directly affects parents and family members who create monetized video content featuring their children under 18.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects minors' digital rights by regulating content creators who profit from children's likenesses, establishing trust funds to safeguard minors' financial interests in digital content creation.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 27, 2025

LC 419: Revise laws related to board seals and responsibilities

This bill eliminates individual physical seals for Montana's professional licensing boards and replaces them with a standardized digital authentication system for official documents. It directly affects boards overseeing medicine, optometry, acupuncture, speech-language pathology, audiology, and veterinary medicine by removing redundant seal requirements across multiple statutes. The legislation clarifies board responsibilities, standardizes how licenses are authenticated, and repeals conflicting provisions that created inconsistencies in how different professional boards operated. Changes apply to all applicants for professional licenses and the administrative staff responsible for issuing and managing those licenses.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill replaces physical seals with digital authentication system, advancing technology adoption and modernizing official document verification processes.85% confidence

Tags Licensing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 3, 2025

LC 1731: Generally revise campaign finance laws to increase transparency

This bill requires Montana's campaign electronic reporting system to generate a unique web address for every file, report, and search result it maintains. The change directly affects political campaigns, candidates, and the public by making it easier to locate and verify campaign finance information online. The legislation does not alter existing reporting requirements but adds a technical feature to improve data accessibility. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all campaign filings processed through the state system.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enhances digital accessibility and transparency by improving online campaign finance data systems, strengthening public access to information through better web infrastructure.75% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 13, 2025

LC 3972: Criminalize use of real and digitally fabricated sexually explicit images

This bill amends Montana's privacy laws to criminalize the possession and threat of disclosure of sexually explicit images, including both real photographs and digitally fabricated content created using artificial intelligence. It directly affects individuals who possess or threaten to share intimate images of identifiable people without consent, as well as platforms and users involved in distributing such material. The law defines "digitally fabricated" as media that realistically misrepresents an individual as engaging in conduct they did not actually participate in, and establishes specific penalties ranging from misdemeanor charges for first offenses to felony convictions for repeat violations. The legislation includes exceptions for law enforcement activities, public interest reporting, and certain artistic or educational uses, while also clarifying that internet service providers are not liable for content created by others.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by criminalizing non-consensual sharing of intimate images, protecting victims and enhancing legal accountability for digital privacy violations.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens privacy protections and cybersecurity by criminalizing non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including AI-generated content, enhancing digital rights and data privacy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Artificial Intelligence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 2942: Generally revise laws related to electronic health care records

This bill requires health insurance carriers in Montana to establish and maintain specific application programming interfaces that allow patients and providers to access and exchange electronic health information. It mandates that insurers implement these digital connection points for patient records, provider directories, payer exchanges, and prior authorization processes by the dates set by federal regulations. Additionally, the law prohibits healthcare providers from blocking access to certain critical medical test results, such as cancer diagnoses, genetic markers, HIV status, and hepatitis indicators, requiring these results be shared with patients within 72 hours of finalization. The legislation also includes standard provisions for codification into state law, severability, and an effective date of January 1, 2026, with one section taking effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates electronic health records access and exchange, improving patient access to medical information and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates electronic health record access via APIs, promoting digital connectivity and patient data accessibility in healthcare.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 3, 2024

LC 110: Adopt Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act

This bill establishes the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act to create a standardized framework for publishing Montana's legal documents, including the state constitution, session laws, and the Montana Code Annotated, in electronic format. It requires official publishers to designate electronic records as official, authenticate them to ensure accuracy, preserve them securely with backup systems, and maintain permanent public access. The legislation also sets standards for implementation by considering practices from other jurisdictions and national guidelines, while clarifying that authenticated electronic records are presumed accurate unless proven otherwise.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes framework for electronic legal documents, promoting digital access and standardizing electronic record-keeping in government.90% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 4, 2025

LC 324: Revise cryptocurrency laws to create Financial Freedom and Innovation Act

This bill, known as the Financial Freedom and Innovation Act, updates Montana's cryptocurrency laws to allow businesses and individuals to accept digital assets as payment and use self-hosted wallets without restriction. It prohibits government authorities from accepting central bank digital currency or participating in related testing, while permitting businesses to operate blockchain nodes, develop software, and engage in staking activities. The legislation requires network token issuers to provide detailed information to the state securities commissioner and limits annual sales of these tokens to $250 million, with provisions for foreign entities to register as Montana corporations to qualify for exemptions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill modernizes cryptocurrency regulations to allow digital asset payments and blockchain operations, promoting innovation in technology sector.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 15, 2025

LC 2559: Resolution supporting the exploration development, processing and refining of critical minerals

This bill is a non-binding resolution that expresses support for the exploration, development, processing, and recycling of critical minerals within Montana. It highlights the state's existing mineral deposits and aims to encourage local and federal agencies to advance projects that secure domestic supply chains for technology, energy, and defense needs. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal statement of intent to promote responsible mining activities aligned with environmental and safety standards. Copies of the resolution are sent to federal officials to signal Montana's commitment to strengthening national critical mineral security.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill promotes critical mineral exploration and processing to secure domestic supply chains for energy needs, indicating support for energy infrastructure development.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill promotes domestic supply chains for technology needs through critical mineral development, indirectly supporting technology infrastructure.75% confidence

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