This bill establishes the Legal Employment and Government Accountability Law, requiring employers in Montana to verify the legal work authorization status of all employees before they begin work using either the federal E-Verify system or completed federal Form I-9 documentation. The Department of Labor and Industry is authorized to enforce these requirements by conducting investigations and audits, with the power to inspect employer records and issue subpoenas. Penalties for violations escalate with each offense, ranging from fines of up to $500 for a first violation to license suspension and fines up to $2,500 per individual for third or subsequent violations, with all collected penalties deposited into a state enforcement fund. The law explicitly states that employers must still comply with all federal immigration laws while implementing these verification procedures.
This bill requires employers in Montana to use the federal e-Verify system to confirm the work authorization status of all new employees, with an effective date of October 1, 2025. Employers must register for an e-Verify account, submit employee information for verification within three business days of hiring, and retain verification records for the duration of employment or three years. The Montana Attorney General is given authority to investigate complaints about unauthorized workers and may impose fines ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 per violation, with potential license suspension for repeat offenders. Local governments are prohibited from passing laws that conflict with these requirements, and the bill includes protections against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, or other discriminatory factors.
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.
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.
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.
SB 329 requires Montana employers with more than 50 employees to use the federal e-Verify system to confirm new hires' work authorization within three business days of hiring. It mandates employers to register for e-Verify, submit employee data for verification, and maintain records for three years or the duration of employment. Employers who fail to verify or employ unauthorized workers face fines up to $5,000 per violation, enforced by the Attorney General through investigations and potential license suspension. The bill exempts employers who hired staff before October 1, 2025, and those already complying with federal verification laws, while prohibiting local governments from blocking enforcement.
