Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB801: Provide for the Montana Firearms Liability Clarification Act
Status: Signed into law, May 19, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising laws relating to firearms; providing for the montana firearms liability clarification act; providing legislative intent; providing definitions; providing limitations on negligent marketing claims; creating a predicate exception limitation; providing penalties; and creating a private right of action.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATING TO FIREARMS; PROVIDING FOR THE MONTANA FIREARMS LIABILITY CLARIFICATION ACT; PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE INTENT; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING LIMITATIONS ON NEGLIGENT MARKETING CLAIMS; CREATING A PREDICATE EXCEPTION LIMITATION; PROVIDING PENALTIES; AND CREATING A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION. WHEREAS, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), 15 U.S.C. 7901, et seq., provides essential protections to firearms manufacturers and sellers against certain lawsuits arising from the criminal or unlawful misuse of their products; and WHEREAS, the predicate exception within the PLCAA allows for certain lawsuits to proceed if the defendant knowingly violated a state or federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of firearms and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm; and WHEREAS, recent litigation in the United States has demonstrated attempts to circumvent the protections of the PLCAA through broad interpretations of the predicate exception; and WHEREAS, a broad interpretation of the predicate exception could undermine the purpose of the PLCAA, effectively swallowing the rule by allowing general statutes to circumvent the PLCAA's protections; and WHEREAS, this legislation aims to prevent judicial activism or jury verdicts based on emotion or political leanings, ensuring that manufacturers are not unfairly punished because their products were illegally used by criminals. Section 1. Short title. [Sections 1 through 7] may be cited as the "Montana Firearms …
Sponsors
- Maness, Shannon (R, 70) · primary sponsor
- Manzella, Theresa (R, 44)
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 22, 2025): 37 yea, 13 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 18, 2025): 35 yea, 9 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 7, 2025): 59 yea, 40 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 60 yea, 39 nay, passed
Subjects: Liability, Courts, Guns and Weapons
Common questions
- What is HB801?
- HB801 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Provide for the Montana Firearms Liability Clarification Act.
- What does HB801 do?
- In its own words: An act revising laws relating to firearms; providing for the montana firearms liability clarification act; providing legislative intent; providing definitions; providing limitations on negligent marketing claims; creating a predicate exception limitation; providing penalties; and creating a private right of action.
- What is the status of HB801?
- Signed into law as of May 19, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 19, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB801?
- Maness, Shannon (R, 70), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB801?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2939
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.