HB 257 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise critical infrastructure protection laws

HB 257 updates Montana's critical infrastructure protection laws by explicitly adding broadband and wireless communications infrastructure (including internet cables, cell towers, and related equipment) to the list of protected facilities. The bill expands definitions in Section 82-1-601 to include these networks under "critical infrastructure facility," while Section 82-1-602 clarifies criminal penalties for trespassing or damaging such facilities. Trespassing with intent to harm these newly protected facilities now carries felony charges (up to 18 months in prison or $4,500 fines), and damage exceeding $1,500 becomes a felony (up to 30 years in prison or $150,000 fines). This law directly affects anyone entering or damaging internet, phone, or cable infrastructure sites, with stricter penalties for intentional harm.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed Apr 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 7 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0257_X(4).pdf HB0257_X(5).pdf · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill underwent minor formatting and stylistic updates, primarily correcting the spacing and capitalization of the bill number from 'HB0257' to 'HB 257'. No substantive policy changes, such as new requirements, funding adjustments, or eligibility criteria, were identified in the provided text.
TECHNICAL

Corrected the formatting of the bill number from 'HB0257' to 'HB 257' in the header and enrolled bill sections.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House Feb 5, 2025

How they voted

491
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 24, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
31 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 7, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (49-1)
senate
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Feb 5, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (90-10)
house
Jan 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Greg Kmetz
Greg Kmetz
RRepublican
MT
36