Technology

vetoed · Montana · Senate Jul 19, 2025

SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act

SB 410, the Montana Genomic Security Act, prohibits medical and research facilities in Montana from using genetic sequencers or sequencing software produced by companies based in nations designated as "foreign adversaries" under federal regulations (e.g., China, Russia). Facilities must replace such technology, store all genetic data within the U.S., and obtain written consent for remote data access outside Montana. The bill requires annual compliance certifications to the Attorney General and imposes $10,000 fines per violation for noncompliance with data storage or technology bans. It directly affects hospitals, research labs, and health facilities receiving state funding or conducting genetic research.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts foreign genomic tech use to protect genetic data privacy and cybersecurity, aligning with data protection indicators90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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vetoed · Montana · House Jul 15, 2025

HB 861: Provide statewide access to a K-12 digital toolkit

HB 861 allocates $1.1 million annually to Montana's Office of Public Instruction and $750,000 to the Department of Labor and Industry for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funds will provide statewide access to a K-12 digital toolkit containing state standards-aligned instructional materials across all subjects, including career and technical education resources aligned with Montana industry needs. This bill directly affects Montana public schools and students by expanding access to digital learning tools. It establishes a permanent funding base for these resources, effective July 1, 2025, though it was vetoed and not enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.85M annually for K-12 digital toolkit, directly funding public education services under state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1.85M for statewide K-12 digital toolkit funding standards-aligned materials, expanding educational access and resources for Montana schools.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds K-12 digital toolkit with state-aligned instructional materials, directly advancing educational technology access and resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 540: Revise taxation of class 17 property

SB 540 revises Montana's property tax rules for "class 17 property," specifically targeting dedicated telecommunications infrastructure like fiber optic and coaxial cable. It provides a 5-year tax exemption for new fiber/coaxial cable installations placed in service after July 1, 2021, with the exemption phasing out over 10 years (20% annually). To maintain the exemption, owners must reinvest the tax savings into new Montana cable installations within 2 years without passing costs to consumers. Federal-funded projects (e.g., under the American Rescue Plan) are excluded from the exemption, and owners must keep records for state review. The bill directly affects telecom infrastructure owners and operators in Montana.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesCreates property tax exemption for telecom infrastructure, reducing state tax revenue. Targets specific industry with tax break, weakening fiscal management of state revenue.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTax exemption for fiber/coaxial infrastructure incentivizes broadband deployment, directly expanding internet access - a key support indicator for technology policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 118: Generally revise student data laws to enhance privacy

SB 118 gives Montana students and parents the right to request deletion of their education data from the statewide K-12 data system. It requires the state education office to delete data within 45 days of a verified request, unless retention is needed for federal/state funding, contracts, or legal orders. The bill mandates accessible request methods (online, mail, email) without requiring account creation and requires annual reporting on deletions. It also updates data system rules to align with privacy standards, including prohibiting social security numbers as student identifiers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnhances student data privacy rights in K-12 systems, protecting student information as part of educational data management.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologySB 118 explicitly enhances student data privacy by mandating deletion of education data upon request, aligning with data privacy protections in technology policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 925: Generally revise social media laws for minors

HB 925, the "Social Media Youth Protection Act," requires social media companies operating in Montana to implement systems that accurately identify minors (with 95% accuracy) and provide parental consent for data privacy settings. It mandates supervisory tools for minor account holders and restricts algorithmically curated services that use engagement-driven features like autoplay or endless scrolling. The bill directly affects social media companies and minors under 18, aiming to reduce excessive use linked to mental health risks by giving parents control over data and content exposure. Key provisions include age-assurance systems, parental consent for data privacy, and penalties for non-compliance, with definitions clarifying terms like "excessive use" and "algorithmically curated services."

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates parental consent for minors' data privacy, restricts engagement-driven algorithms, and requires supervisory tools to protect minors. This regulates tech companies for consumer protection and strengthens data privacy for minors.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 885: Generally revise Medicaid laws to improve customer service

HB 885 aims to improve customer service for Medicaid applicants and recipients in Montana. It requires the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to implement mobile-first technology for online applications and renewals, utilize text and email for communications, and ensure written notices are in plain language and translated. The bill also mandates the DPHHS to provide expected wait times and callback options for hotline callers and to reopen 10 local public assistance offices by June 30, 2026. Additionally, it establishes quarterly reporting requirements to the legislature on various Medicaid client service metrics.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareImproves Medicaid access via mobile tech, plain language notices, and reopened offices, enhancing service for recipients as per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates mobile-first technology and digital communications (text/email) for Medicaid services, promoting tech use to improve public service access and customer experience.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Technology

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 10: Long-range information technology appropriations

HB 10 appropriates over $39 million for various information technology (IT) capital projects across multiple state agencies for the biennium ending June 30, 2027. It transfers funds from the general fund to the Long-Range Information Technology Program (LRITP) account to support these initiatives. The bill funds projects such as cybersecurity enhancements, system modernizations, and new business applications for departments like Administration, Corrections, and Public Health and Human Services. All funded projects require approval from the chief information officer and budget director for their design, implementation, and data security plans, emphasizing safeguards against unauthorized access and promoting data sharing among agencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesHB 10 appropriates $39M for IT capital projects via state budget transfers, directly funding essential state IT infrastructure modernization and cybersecurity under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds cybersecurity enhancements and IT modernization, directly advancing technology infrastructure per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology

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

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 534: Provide property tax exemption for wireless infrastructure

SB 534 provides a property tax exemption for specific wireless infrastructure in Montana. This bill exempts qualifying wireless infrastructure, placed into service on or after the act's effective date, from property taxes for an initial period of five years. Following this, the exemption gradually phases out over the next five years, after which the property becomes fully taxable. To maintain the exemption, owners must reinvest the tax savings into new communication infrastructure within Montana, without charging those costs to consumers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides property tax exemption for wireless infrastructure, a direct tax relief measure under taxation policy, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTax exemption incentivizes wireless infrastructure investment, directly advancing internet access and communication technology deployment per bill's purpose.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Technology