Criminal Justice (Human Trafficking)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 6, 2024

LC 176: Generally revise power and duties of agents

This bill expands the investigative authority of agents appointed by Montana's Attorney General by adding human trafficking, prostitution, and internet crimes against children to the list of offenses they can investigate alongside local law enforcement. The legislation clarifies that these agents already have concurrent jurisdiction with local agencies for certain crimes like drug offenses and organized criminal activity, but now explicitly includes the three new categories. It also provides a detailed definition of "internet crimes against children" to include various forms of sexual offenses committed using electronic devices or communications. The changes directly affect the Department of Justice's agents and local law enforcement agencies that may request their assistance in these specific investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands investigative authority for human trafficking, prostitution, and child internet crimes, strengthening law enforcement capabilities and addressing serious criminal justice concerns.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 16, 2025

LC 2975: Generally revise endangering the welfare of children

This bill revises Montana's endangering the welfare of children law to clarify specific prohibited actions and update penalties. It directly affects parents, guardians, and anyone supervising children under 18 by explicitly criminalizing exposing children to marijuana or dangerous drugs and assisting minors in entering adult-use dispensaries or locations involved in human trafficking or drug production. The legislation also establishes clearer guidelines for what constitutes acceptable independent activities for children, such as walking to school or short car rides, while maintaining stricter penalties for cases involving methamphetamine manufacturing or serious bodily injury to a child.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill clarifies prohibited actions and updates penalties for endangering children, strengthening child protection laws within criminal justice framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Human Trafficking

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 30, 2025

LC 693: Provide for human trafficking awareness training for school bus drivers

This bill requires school bus drivers in Montana to complete a free, transportation industry-specific training course on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking as part of their driver qualifications. The Office of Public Instruction will provide the training materials at no cost to driver candidates and is directed to recommend that this training be included in ongoing inservice training for bus drivers. The law also encourages the Office of Public Instruction to educate the broader community about child sex trafficking prevention and to coordinate with law enforcement and other agencies on awareness efforts. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances public safety by training school bus drivers to recognize and report human trafficking, strengthening law enforcement capabilities and victim protection.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances student safety by requiring human trafficking awareness training for school bus drivers, protecting students and supporting educational staff.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by requiring human trafficking awareness training for school bus drivers, improving safety standards and driver qualifications.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking School Transportation Public Transit

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 3410: Establish criminal offense of abortion trafficking

This bill creates a new criminal offense called abortion trafficking in Montana, which prohibits individuals from transporting unborn children within or outside the state with the intent to obtain an illegal abortion. The law applies to anyone who knowingly moves a fetus for the purpose of ending a pregnancy that would be unlawful under Montana law, with penalties including fines up to $1,000 or up to five years in prison. The legislation also amends existing abortion-related penalties to clarify that mothers cannot be punished for the crime of abortion trafficking, while allowing penalties against them for other violations. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and applies to any acts committed on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offense for transporting fetuses, increasing potential penalties and restricting reproductive rights under criminal justice framework90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts access to abortion services by criminalizing transportation for illegal abortions, limiting patient access to reproductive healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Women's Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 2134: Create the crime of human smuggling

This bill creates a new criminal offense called human smuggling in Montana, targeting individuals who knowingly transport or harbor people who entered the United States illegally without federal inspection. Anyone convicted of this crime faces up to 20 years in state prison and fines of up to $400,000, while convicted organizations lose eligibility for certain tax exemptions. The law also allows authorities to seize and forfeit property used in human smuggling, including vehicles, money, and equipment, with proceeds from sales going to crime victims compensation funds. Additionally, the bill amends existing tax exemption laws to clarify how property is classified under current Montana statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offense with harsh penalties, increasing mandatory sentencing and restricting due process for those accused of human smuggling.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes human smuggling and increases state immigration enforcement penalties, restricting immigrant access and protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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signed · Montana · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 104: Generally revise power and duties of agents

HB 104 expands the investigative authority of agents appointed by Montana's Attorney General. It adds human trafficking, prostitution, and internet crimes against children to the list of offenses these agents can investigate concurrently with local law enforcement. The bill specifically defines "internet crimes against children" to include offenses like sexual assault, child sex trafficking, and other technology-facilitated crimes against minors. This change directly affects Attorney General-appointed agents, clarifying their jurisdiction without creating new penalties or funding. The bill amends Section 44-2-115 of Montana Code Annotated.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands investigative authority for agents targeting child exploitation and trafficking, strengthening law enforcement's role in criminal justice as defined by the bill's focus on specific offenses.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Violent Crime

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 609: Establish criminal offense of abortion trafficking

HB 609 sought to establish the criminal offense of "abortion trafficking." It would prohibit any person from purposely or knowingly transporting an unborn child from Montana, either within or outside the state, to obtain an abortion that is illegal under Montana law. Individuals convicted of this offense could face fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. The bill also included a provision allowing penalties to be imposed against the mother of an unborn child for violating this specific trafficking offense, which is an exception to general prohibitions against penalizing women for abortion-related acts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense for abortion-related transport, increasing penalties under criminal law.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access by criminalizing transportation for illegal abortions, directly limiting a healthcare service under Montana law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Women's Health

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signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 261: Generally revise endangering the welfare of children

SB 261 revises the existing law concerning endangering the welfare of children. It expands the definition of this offense to include knowingly exposing a child to marijuana or dangerous drugs. The bill also makes it an offense to assist a child in entering an adult-use dispensary or a place where human trafficking or the production of dangerous drugs is taking place. Additionally, it updates sections related to drug manufacturing and exposure in the presence of children to apply to a broader range of dangerous drugs instead of specifically methamphetamine.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offenses (e.g., exposing children to marijuana) and aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Human Trafficking

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3187: Establishing a mandatory minimum under the child trafficking laws

This bill (LC 3187) aimed to establish mandatory minimum sentencing requirements for certain child trafficking offenses under existing state laws. It would have required judges to impose specific minimum prison terms for convicted offenders, directly affecting individuals charged with severe child trafficking violations. The bill was drafted but never advanced beyond the initial stages, with its status listed as "Draft Died in Process" on May 27, 2025. No provisions were enacted or implemented.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates specific minimum prison terms for child trafficking, increasing sentencing severity per 'oppose' indicator of 'increases mandatory sentences'.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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