Technology

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 408: Revise laws to protect children from obscene content through electronic devices

HB 408 requires all smartphones and tablets activated in Montana after January 1, 2026, to include automatic filters blocking obscene content for minors (under 18). Manufacturers face civil liability if filters fail to activate for minors, while parents/guardians can sue manufacturers for damages if filters are disabled by others (excluding parents). The bill mandates age verification during device setup, automatic filter activation for minors, and penalties up to $50,000 per violation for noncompliance. The bill died in the legislative process on May 22, 2025, and never became law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates tech manufacturers to implement child safety filters and age verification, regulating devices for consumer protection under information technology subject.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 255: Revise online data privacy laws for K-12 pupil records

HB 255 revises Montana's data privacy rules for K-12 student records held by third-party educational technology providers (like apps or cloud services). It requires school districts to include specific privacy protections in contracts with these vendors, such as prohibiting the use of student data for targeted advertising, ensuring data security, and guaranteeing students or parents can access or correct their records. The bill also allows schools to adopt pre-approved model contracts from privacy-focused consortia to simplify compliance. These changes directly affect school districts, educational tech companies, and students whose data is stored or managed through digital platforms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects student data privacy in K-12 ed tech contracts by banning targeted ads, ensuring security, and enabling data access/correction, directly strengthening educational data safeguards.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires edtech vendors to prohibit student data use for ads, ensure security, and allow data access/correction - strengthening privacy protections for K-12 tech services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 556: Generally revise usage of artificial intelligence in certain health insurance

House Bill 556 regulates how health insurance issuers use artificial intelligence (AI) for reviewing and managing healthcare services. It prohibits AI, algorithms, or other software tools from solely determining medical necessity or denying, delaying, or modifying healthcare services. Instead, medical necessity determinations must be made by licensed healthcare professionals, considering individual patient history and circumstances, not just group data. The bill also requires AI tools to be applied fairly, avoid discrimination, and be open to audit, making non-compliance an unfair claim settlement practice.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits AI from solely determining medical necessity, requiring licensed professionals to make decisions based on individual patient history, protecting patient rights.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates AI in health insurance to prevent algorithmic decisions without human oversight, aligning with consumer protection indicators by requiring licensed professionals for medical necessity determinations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 513: Revise laws related to use of name, voice, and likeness of individuals and penalties for unauthorized use

HB 513 establishes property rights for individuals in their name, voice, and likeness, making these rights transferable and descendible for a period after their death. The bill prohibits the unauthorized creation, distribution, or use of digital voice replicas or digital depictions of an individual. Those who violate these provisions may face significant financial penalties, including actual damages and profits from the unauthorized use. However, the bill includes exceptions for uses like news reporting, commentary, criticism, scholarship, satire, or parody.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProtects digital privacy by granting property rights to name/voice/likeness and penalizing unauthorized digital replicas, aligning with data privacy indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 392: Generally revise laws related to creation of profitable family video content featuring minor children

HB 392, known as the "Child Digital Protection Act," revises laws concerning profitable family video content featuring minor children. It requires content creators who meet specific profit and content thresholds to contribute a percentage of their gross earnings into a trust for the minor child, accessible once the child reaches 18 years of age. Additionally, the bill grants individuals who were featured as minors in such content the right to request the permanent deletion of those video segments from online platforms upon reaching the age of majority.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyGrants minors right to request deletion of personal content, enhancing data privacy protections for digital content featuring minors per bill's deletion provision.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 271: Provide that there is a limited executive privilege to the public records act

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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts executive exemptions for public records, requiring narrow tailoring and 60-day limits to protect data privacy under Privacy subject.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 178: Limit government use of AI systems

HB 178 limits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems by state and local government entities and officers. The bill prohibits AI use for cognitive behavioral manipulation, unlawful discrimination, deceptive purposes, and most public space surveillance, with specific exceptions. It requires government entities to disclose when AI-produced material is published without human review or when an AI system is used in public interfaces. Additionally, any AI recommendation or decision that could impact a person's rights, duties, or privileges must be reviewed and can be modified or rejected by a trained human in a responsible position.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts government AI use for deceptive purposes and requires disclosure, directly protecting data privacy and digital rights per topic description.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 122: Revise right-of-way laws

HB 122 revises existing right-of-way laws for utility lines on public roads, streets, and highways. It specifically expands the authorized utilities to include broadband lines and natural gas pipelines. This allows corporations and public bodies operating these services to install necessary infrastructure, such as lines, pipelines, posts, and piers, along public thoroughfares. The bill maintains the requirement that these installations must not inconvenience or endanger the public.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands broadband infrastructure access by explicitly including it in utility right-of-way laws for public thoroughfares.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 257: 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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAdds broadband/wireless infrastructure to protected facilities, strengthening cybersecurity and internet access infrastructure protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 249: Include digital identifications in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana laws

HB 249 allows businesses selling alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana to accept digital versions of government-issued IDs (like phone-based licenses) for age verification. It directly affects retailers in these industries and customers using digital IDs. The bill requires businesses to handle digital ID data strictly: they may not sell or transfer the data and must permanently delete it within 180 days after use. These rules apply to all age-restricted sales, including tobacco products under Section 16-11-305 and marijuana transactions under Section 16-12-104.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires strict data handling for digital IDs: prohibits sale/transfer and mandates 180-day deletion, enhancing privacy protections in tech transactions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology