Immigration (Driver Licenses & IDs)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 15, 2025

LC 1203: Revise election laws to provide for verification of an elector’s citizenship

This bill requires Montana's Secretary of State to verify the U.S. citizenship status of all registered voters and remove those who are not citizens from the voter rolls. It mandates that new voter applicants provide documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, with limited exceptions for specific alternative IDs. The law also directs officials to notify voters whose citizenship status cannot be immediately confirmed and give them a chance to provide proof before their names are removed.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts immigrant access to voting and mandates citizenship verification, limiting protections for non-citizens.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs Tags Elections

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 15, 2025

LC 3071: Require peace officer to check and report immigration status during lawful stop

This bill requires peace officers in Montana to check and report the immigration status of individuals during lawful stops, unless doing so would hinder an investigation. It directly affects law enforcement officers and individuals who are stopped by police under existing stop-and-frisk provisions. The key provision adds a new requirement for officers to make a reasonable attempt to determine immigration status when practicable and report non-citizens who are not lawfully present to federal immigration agencies. The bill amends existing Montana law to include this immigration status check as part of the standard investigative stop procedure.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by requiring immigration status checks during stops, potentially increasing enforcement scope and limiting individual rights under existing stop-and-frisk provisions.85% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill mandates state law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement by requiring officers to check and report immigration status during stops.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 462: Generally revise department of motor vehicles laws

SB 462 proposes changes to Montana's driver licensing laws. It would lower the minimum age for restricted licenses from 16 to 15 (with specific conditions), allow counties to request monthly driver examinations instead of requiring them monthly statewide, and add a requirement for the DMV to verify non-citizens' lawful U.S. presence using federal systems. The bill directly affects Montana residents seeking licenses, particularly teens, non-citizens, and local counties managing exam scheduling. These changes were proposed but did not become law, as the bill died in committee in May 2025.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill mandates DMV to verify non-citizens' lawful presence via federal systems, requiring state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 29, 2025

LC 2020: Generally revise laws related to illegal aliens

This Montana bill requires certain professionals and officials - including healthcare workers, school staff, social workers, law enforcement, and clergy (with limited exceptions) - to report individuals they know are not lawfully present in the U.S. to the Montana Department of Justice. It specifies required report details (e.g., individual’s name, source of knowledge) and mandates audio recording of phone reports while keeping reporters’ identities confidential. The Department of Justice may share reported information with federal immigration agencies, and the bill appropriates $500 for a reporting website and physical forms. It directly affects the listed professionals who must comply with reporting obligations, not the undocumented individuals themselves.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates reporting of undocumented individuals to state authorities, increasing enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · Montana · Legislature May 24, 2025

LC 1252: Generally revise laws related to illegal undocumented alien employment

This bill (LC 1252) proposed revisions to state laws concerning employment of undocumented immigrants. It did not become law, as it died in the legislative process on May 24, 2025, after being drafted but not advanced further. The bill's title indicates it aimed to change regulations around unauthorized employment, but no specific provisions or affected groups were detailed in the provided context. Since it never passed, it did not implement any policy changes.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill title targets 'illegal undocumented alien employment' with no pro-immigrant indicators, implying restrictive enforcement on undocumented worker access.80% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill targets restrictions on undocumented workers' employment, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of limiting employment access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics DACA & Dreamers Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization Child Labor Gig Economy Labor Standards

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2757: Require use of E-verify for employment

This bill (LC 2757) proposed requiring all employers in the state to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the work authorization of new hires. It would have directly affected businesses of all sizes hiring employees, mandating electronic verification of immigration status instead of relying on paper I-9 forms alone. The key provision would have required employers to check all new employees against federal databases before hiring. However, the bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as it was placed "On Hold" in December 2024 and later "Died in Process" in May 2025. No policy changes were enacted under this bill.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates E-Verify for all employers, requiring state-level cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, restricting undocumented workers' access to jobs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 469: Revise the exemption for out-of-state driver's licenses

HB 469 revises state law regarding the recognition of out-of-state driver's licenses for non-residents operating motor vehicles. The bill clarifies that a non-resident's license is not valid if it belongs to a class of licenses issued exclusively to individuals unlawfully present in the United States. It mandates the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Justice to establish rules for identifying and classifying these specific out-of-state licenses.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts driver's license access for undocumented immigrants by invalidating out-of-state licenses issued to unlawfully present individuals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs

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signed · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HB 226: Provide for a legal employment and government accountability law

House Bill 226, titled the "Legal Employment and Government Accountability Law," requires employers to verify the legal work authorization of all employees before they start working. Employers must use either the federal E-Verify program or a completed Form I-9 with supporting documents to confirm eligibility. The Department of Labor and Industry is authorized to enforce this law through investigations, audits, and rulemaking. Non-compliance can lead to civil penalties, including fines for each individual employed in violation and potential suspension of business licenses for repeat offenses. A dedicated state special revenue fund will collect these penalties to support the law's implementation and administration.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires employer verification of legal work status via E-Verify/I-9, restricting unauthorized employment access - clear immigration enforcement measure95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Work Authorization

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 927: Generally revise laws related to illegal aliens

House Bill 927 would have required a wide range of professionals and officials in Montana to report individuals they know are "not lawfully present in the United States" to the state Department of Justice. These mandatory reporters would have included healthcare providers, school staff, social workers, law enforcement, and certain clergy members. The bill outlined procedures for the Department of Justice to receive and record these reports, with the option to share information with federal immigration agencies while keeping the reporter's identity confidential. Failure to make a required report would have been a misdemeanor.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates reporting of undocumented individuals to state for federal sharing, increasing state enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement

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signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 91: Require citizenship marker on driver's license and identification cards

SB 91 requires driver's licenses and identification cards issued in Montana to display an individual's U.S. citizenship status. Beginning January 1, 2026, an image of an eagle will be included on these cards for applicants who are United States citizens. This change affects all U.S. citizens applying for or renewing a driver's license or identification card in Montana.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires citizenship marker on IDs, restricting non-citizens' access to state-issued identification services and enabling potential enforcement actions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs