Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB638: Revise human rights laws
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act generally revising human rights laws; prohibiting a state or local government agency from requiring or requesting a diversity statement or granting any preferential treatment based on the submission of a diversity statement; providing an exception; and providing definitions.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS; PROHIBITING A STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY FROM REQUIRING OR REQUESTING A DIVERSITY STATEMENT OR GRANTING ANY PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT BASED ON THE SUBMISSION OF A DIVERSITY STATEMENT; PROVIDING AN EXCEPTION; AND PROVIDING DEFINITIONS. Section 1. Diversity statements prohibited -- exception. (1) A state or local government agency may not require, request, solicit, or compel a person to provide a diversity statement. (2) A state or local government agency may not grant any form of preferential consideration or treatment to a person who, with or without solicitation from the state or local government agency, provides a diversity statement. (3) If federal law requires a state or local government agency to accept or require a diversity statement, then the state or local government and (b) shall limit consideration of the information contained in the diversity statement to the extent necessary to satisfy the requirement under federal law. (4) Nothing in this section limits or prohibits a state or local government agency from establishing policies that are necessary to comply with state or federal law, including laws relating to prohibited discrimination and harassment. Section 2. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 through 2], unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following definitions apply: (1) "Diversity statement" means a submission, statement, or document that promotes or is …
Sponsors
- Gregg, Randyn (R, 78) · primary sponsor
- Emrich, Daniel (R, 11)
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 15, 2025): 31 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 14, 2025): 29 yea, 19 nay, passed
- AMD-HB0638.001.008 Olsen D/PASS (April 14, 2025): 18 yea, 29 nay, failed
- Do Pass (March 7, 2025): 57 yea, 41 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 56 yea, 41 nay, passed
- AMD-HB0638.001.003 Schubert DO PASS (March 5, 2025): 3 yea, 95 nay, failed
Subjects: Discrimination, State Government
Common questions
- What is HB638?
- HB638 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise human rights laws.
- What does HB638 do?
- In its own words: An act generally revising human rights laws; prohibiting a state or local government agency from requiring or requesting a diversity statement or granting any preferential treatment based on the submission of a diversity statement; providing an exception; and providing definitions.
- What is the status of HB638?
- Signed into law as of May 5, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 5, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB638?
- Gregg, Randyn (R, 78), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB638?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2380
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.