Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB408: Provide that legislative bill drafting files are public records
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing that legislative bill drafting files are public records that are available on request pursuant to montana's public records laws; and providing an immediate effective date.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING THAT LEGISLATIVE BILL DRAFTING FILES ARE PUBLIC RECORDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST PURSUANT TO MONTANA'S PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." WHEREAS, Montana has a deeply rooted commitment to the transparency and accountability of government, as demonstrated by the protections offered by the right to know in Article II, section 9, and the right of participation in the operations of government agencies in Article II, section 8, of the Montana Constitution; and WHEREAS, the Montana Constitution has enshrined access to public information in the right to know in Article II, section 9, which states that "No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure"; and WHEREAS, the right of participation in Article II, section 8, of the Montana Constitution also ensures that the public must be given a reasonable opportunity to participate in the operation of government agencies prior to the final decision as may be provided by law; and WHEREAS, these fundamental rights are the foundation on which every Montanan is able to exercise the power to hold elected officials …
Sponsors
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Process
- : (S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (S) 2nd Reading Indefinitely Postponed
- : (S) 2nd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (S) Reconsidered Previous Action
- : (S) Motion
- : (S) 2nd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (S) Committee Report
Votes
- ReconsAction and place on Second Reading on 3/6/2025-Usher (March 6, 2025): 27 yea, 23 nay, passed
- Indefinitely Postpone -McGillvray (March 6, 2025): 35 yea, 15 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 18 yea, 32 nay, failed
- Take SB 408 from Comm-Usher (March 5, 2025): 23 yea, 27 nay, failed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Communications, Public Officers and Employees, State Government
Common questions
- What is SB408?
- SB408 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Provide that legislative bill drafting files are public records.
- What does SB408 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing that legislative bill drafting files are public records that are available on request pursuant to montana's public records laws; and providing an immediate effective date.".
- What is the status of SB408?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Process (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB408?
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22).
- Where is the official record for SB408?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0871
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.