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Read. Follow. Verify.Montana allows legislators to use personal or alternative email for official communications
Last action · May 23, 2025: (S) Died in ProcessSponsor: Shane Morigeau
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What This Bill Proposed
Montana lawmakers are newly permitted to designate an email address other than their official legislative branch account as their primary contact for public and legislative communications, provided they manage records in compliance with state public records laws.
Lawmakers choosing an alternative email address assume personal responsibility for ensuring all legislative business conducted through that account complies with Montana's public records laws and records management plans.
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.
Legislators
Lawmakers gain the option to use non-branch email addresses for official business but take on the direct responsibility for public records compliance.
Office of Legislative Information Services
Key Facts
- Legislators may select a preferred email address other than the legislative branch-provided address as their primary contact for electronic communications.
- Lawmakers using an alternative email address are personally responsible for managing electronic communications related to legislative business in accordance with state public records laws.
- Alternative email addresses must comply with Title 2, chapter 6, part 10, and the legislative branch's records management plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Montana legislators use their personal email for legislative business?
Who is responsible for ensuring alternative emails comply with public records laws?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died in committee.
Procedural history
20 actions- May 23, 2025Senate(S) Died in Process
- Mar 12, 2025Senate(S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- Mar 4, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Printed
- Mar 3, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- Mar 3, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Received
- Mar 1, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Tabled in Committee
Show 14 earlier actions
- Feb 27, 2025Senate(S) Hearing
- Feb 26, 2025SenateCommittee(S) Referred to Committee
- Feb 26, 2025Senate(S) 1st Reading
- Feb 26, 2025Senate(S) Hearing
- Feb 25, 2025Senate(S) Fiscal Note Requested
- Feb 25, 2025SenateIntroduced(S) Introduced
- Feb 25, 2025House(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Feb 24, 2025House(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Feb 19, 2025House(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Feb 19, 2025House(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Feb 19, 2025House(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Feb 16, 2025House(LC) Draft in Edit
- Feb 16, 2025House(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Oct 31, 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
Connected Entities
Sources
bills.legmt.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 25)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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