Montana's LC 3618 would create a state-run trade office in Israel to promote economic partnerships between Montana businesses and Israeli companies. The office, staffed by at least one person, aims to boost trade in key Montana-aligned sectors like agriculture (pulse crops, meats), technology (photonics, quantum computing), and cultural exchanges. It allocates $500,000 from the general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium, with the office terminating on June 30, 2033. The bill explicitly states the office is for promotional purposes only, not to regulate commerce, and seeks to strengthen economic ties with Israel as a global leader in relevant industries.
Bill LC 896 aimed to prohibit the state's central bank from issuing a digital currency and to ban its use within the state. It would have directly affected the central bank, financial institutions, and residents by making central bank digital currency illegal. The key provision would have been a legal ban on creating, distributing, or using such a currency. The bill was drafted in 2024 but died in the legislative process in 2025 without becoming law.
This bill (LC 3164) proposed requiring all government agencies to accept paper filings for services, such as permits or applications, alongside digital options. It would have directly affected citizens and businesses needing to submit documents to state agencies. The bill aimed to ensure accessibility for people without reliable internet access or digital tools. However, the bill was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process without becoming law.
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 885 aims to improve customer service for Medicaid applicants and recipients in Montana. It requires the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to implement mobile-first technology for online applications and renewals, utilize text and email for communications, and ensure written notices are in plain language and translated. The bill also mandates the DPHHS to provide expected wait times and callback options for hotline callers and to reopen 10 local public assistance offices by June 30, 2026. Additionally, it establishes quarterly reporting requirements to the legislature on various Medicaid client service metrics.
SB 426 generally revises the state's Uniform Commercial Code to update it for the digital age. The bill modernizes terminology and establishes rules for commercial transactions involving certain digital assets, including cryptocurrency. It also explicitly prohibits the support, endorsement, creation, or implementation of a central bank digital currency within the state. This legislation affects businesses, financial institutions, and individuals engaged in commercial activities, particularly those involving digital records and assets.
HB 861 allocates $1.1 million annually to Montana's Office of Public Instruction and $750,000 to the Department of Labor and Industry for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funds will provide statewide access to a K-12 digital toolkit containing state standards-aligned instructional materials across all subjects, including career and technical education resources aligned with Montana industry needs. This bill directly affects Montana public schools and students by expanding access to digital learning tools. It establishes a permanent funding base for these resources, effective July 1, 2025, though it was vetoed and not enacted.
HB 662 revises the Montana Driver Privacy Protection Act to strengthen privacy protections for individuals' motor vehicle records. The bill requires that "express consent" for disclosing personal information must be obtained on a specific form prescribed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. It also allows individuals to file individual or class action lawsuits against "requesters" who misuse this disclosed information. These lawsuits can seek punitive damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees, and the department would be required to maintain a list of all requesters.
HB 271 revises laws concerning executive exemptions to public records requests, aiming to replace a common law privilege with a statutory framework. It allows the Governor to assert a limited executive exemption for specific information only when their individual privacy interest clearly outweighs the merits of public disclosure, requiring the exemption to be narrowly tailored. The bill defines "confidential information" restrictively and sets a maximum duration of 60 days for an exemption to last. Additionally, it requires the award of costs and reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing party in public records litigation.
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Government Transparency
HB 697 clarifies that public employees in Montana do not have an expectation of privacy in electronic communications sent or received through systems provided and managed by their public agency. This means that any communications, including personal ones, made using public agency equipment are subject to public records laws and agency policies. As a result, public agencies would not be required to review these communications for privacy implications when responding to public information requests.
