Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB278: Require peace officer to check and report immigration status during lawful stop
Status: Signed into law, April 17, 2025
What the bill says
An act authorizing a peace officer to check and requiring the peace officer to report the immigration status of a person during a lawful stop; and amending section 46-5-401, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT AUTHORIZING A PEACE OFFICER TO CHECK AND REQUIRING THE PEACE OFFICER TO REPORT THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OF A PERSON DURING A LAWFUL STOP; AND AMENDING SECTION 46-5-401, MCA. Section 1. Section 46-5-401, MCA, is amended to read: "46-5-401. Investigative stop and frisk. (1) In order to obtain or verify an account of the person's presence or conduct or to determine whether to arrest the person, a peace officer may stop any person or vehicle that is observed in circumstances that create a particularized suspicion that the person or occupant of the vehicle has committed, is committing, or is about to commit an offense. If the stop is for a violation under Title 61, unless emergency circumstances exist or the officer has reasonable cause to fear for the officer's own safety or for the public's safety, the officer shall as promptly as possible inform the person of the reason for the stop. (2) A peace officer who has lawfully stopped a person or vehicle under this section may: (a) request the person's name and present address and an explanation of the person's actions and, if the person is the driver of a vehicle, demand the person's driver's license and the vehicle's registration and proof of insurance; and (b) frisk the person and take other reasonably necessary steps for protection …
Sponsors
- Nicol, Nelly (R, 53) · primary sponsor
- Glimm, Carl (R, 3)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 1, 2025): 30 yea, 20 nay, passed
- Do Concur (March 31, 2025): 32 yea, 18 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 12, 2025): 60 yea, 40 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 11, 2025): 59 yea, 40 nay, passed
Subjects: Law Enforcement, Federal Government
Common questions
- What is HB278?
- HB278 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Require peace officer to check and report immigration status during lawful stop.
- What does HB278 do?
- In its own words: An act authorizing a peace officer to check and requiring the peace officer to report the immigration status of a person during a lawful stop; and amending section 46-5-401, mca.
- What is the status of HB278?
- Signed into law as of April 17, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (April 17, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB278?
- Nicol, Nelly (R, 53), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB278?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3071
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.