Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB697: Clarify government employee privacy rights
Status: Failed, May 20, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing that a public employee does not have an expectation of privacy in electronic communications sent or received through means for electronic communication provided and managed by the public agency where the public employee works; providing that a public agency does not have to review communications in response to a public information request for privacy implications if the communications were sent or received through means for electronic communication provided by the public agency; and providing a definition.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING THAT A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DOES NOT HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY IN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SENT OR RECEIVED THROUGH MEANS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION PROVIDED AND MANAGED BY THE PUBLIC AGENCY WHERE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WORKS; PROVIDING THAT A PUBLIC AGENCY DOES NOT HAVE TO REVIEW COMMUNICATIONS IN RESPONSE TO A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST FOR PRIVACY IMPLICATIONS IF THE COMMUNICATIONS WERE SENT OR RECEIVED THROUGH MEANS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION PROVIDED BY THE PUBLIC AGENCY; AND PROVIDING A DEFINITION." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Public employee electronic communications -- no right to privacy. (1) A public employee who engages in electronic communications through means provided and managed by a public agency where the public employee works is subject to public records laws, record retention schedules, and, as provided in ethics laws and in policies and procedures adopted by the public agency, requirements for the use of public equipment, facilities, and materials. (2) A public employee is expected to use the means for electronic communication provided by the public agency, including the public employee's public e-mail account, for work-related purposes. The public employee does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in electronic communications sent or received through the means for electronic communication provided by …
Sponsors
- Mercer, Bill (R, 52) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Process
- : (H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (H) 2nd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- : (H) Committee Report
- : (H) Committee Executive Action
- : (H) Fiscal Note Printed
- : (H) Fiscal Note Signed
- : (H) Fiscal Note Received
- : (H) Hearing
Votes
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 40 yea, 59 nay, failed
Subjects: Privacy, State Government
Common questions
- What is HB697?
- HB697 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Clarify government employee privacy rights.
- What does HB697 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing that a public employee does not have an expectation of privacy in electronic communications sent or received through means for electronic communication provided and managed by the public agency where the public employee works; providing that a public agency does not have to review communications in response to a public information request for privacy implications if the communications were sent or received through means for electronic communication provided by the public agency; and providing a definition.".
- What is the status of HB697?
- Failed as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB697?
- Mercer, Bill (R, 52).
- Where is the official record for HB697?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3431
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.