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Read. Follow. Verify.Montana creates cigar bar room license endorsement and requires state gaming industry study
Last action · May 23, 2025: (S) Died in ProcessSponsor: Wylie Galt
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What This Bill Proposed
Montana Senate Bill 150 establishes a cigar bar room license endorsement for eligible alcoholic beverage licensees, exempting qualifying establishments from Clean Indoor Air Act smoking prohibitions under specific ventilation and operational restrictions. The measure also directs the Department of Justice to conduct a comprehensive study of the state's gaming industry by December 1, 2026.
Qualifying liquor licensees gain the legal right to permit premium cigar smoking within a dedicated, separately ventilated enclosed space on their premises, provided they meet revenue thresholds and age restrictions. At the same time, state regulators must complete a detailed review of video gambling limits and payouts.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
All-beverages licensees
Eligible bar and casino operators may apply for a cigar bar room endorsement to allow indoor premium cigar smoking under specific operational and ventilation rules.
Employees of cigar bar room licensees
Workers face restrictions prohibiting entry into the enclosed smoking area during active smoking except in exigent circumstances, and cannot take or deliver drink orders in person inside the smoking area.
Key Facts
- An all-beverages licensee may apply to the department for a cigar bar room license endorsement by paying an annual fee of $100.
- A cigar bar room endorsement permits the smoking of premium cigars only in a designated separate enclosed space within the licensed premises that is exempt from Clean Indoor Air Act restrictions.
- Cigar bar room endorsements are restricted to all-beverages licensees who also hold a gaming or gambling license.
- Establishments with a cigar bar room endorsement must generate at least 10% of their annual gross income, excluding gaming or gambling income, from the sale of cigars.
Show all 8 facts
- The enclosed smoking area must be located in a freestanding structure or an indoor room enclosed by solid walls or windows, a ceiling, and a solid door, equipped with a dedicated ventilation system that does not recirculate air to nonsmoking areas.
- Employees of the cigar bar room licensee may not enter the enclosed smoking area while smoking is occurring except under exigent circumstances, and video gambling machines are prohibited inside the smoking area.
- The Department of Justice Gambling Control Division, in conjunction with the Gaming Advisory Council, must conduct and publish a study of the gaming industry by December 1, 2026.
- The gaming study provisions terminate on December 31, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is required to qualify for a cigar bar room endorsement?
Are employees allowed inside the cigar smoking room while patrons are smoking?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died on the Senate floor.
Procedural history
35 actions- May 23, 2025Senate(S) Died in Process
- Apr 23, 2025House(H) 3rd Reading
- Apr 23, 2025House(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- Apr 23, 2025Senate(S) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
- Apr 23, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- Apr 22, 2025House(H) 2nd Reading
Show 29 earlier actions
- Apr 22, 2025House(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- Apr 22, 2025Senate(S) Revised Fiscal Note Received
- Apr 17, 2025Senate(S) Revised Fiscal Note Requested
- Apr 17, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Committee Report
- Apr 17, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Committee Executive Action
- Mar 13, 2025House(H) Hearing
- Feb 27, 2025House(H) 1st Reading
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee(H) Referred to Committee
- Feb 26, 2025Senate(S) Transmitted to House
- Feb 26, 2025Senate(S) 3rd Reading
- Feb 26, 2025Senate(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- Feb 25, 2025Senate(S) 2nd Reading
- Feb 25, 2025Senate(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- Feb 13, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Committee Report
- Jan 24, 2025Senate(S) Hearing
- Jan 23, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Printed
- Jan 23, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Signed
- Jan 22, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Received
- Jan 16, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Requested
- Jan 15, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Referred to Committee
- Jan 15, 2025Senate(S) 1st Reading
- Jan 14, 2025SenateIntroduced(S) Introduced
- Jan 14, 2025House(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Jan 12, 2025House(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Jan 12, 2025House(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Jan 10, 2025House(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Jan 6, 2025House(LC) Draft in Edit
- Jan 6, 2025House(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Nov 19, 2024House(LC) Drafter Assigned
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
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Sources
bills.legmt.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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