The bill seeks to enhance public record laws by establishing specific requirements and deadlines for public agencies that are not local governments. It introduces a two-year retention period for information requests and responses, along with a new fee structure that allows these agencies to charge for fulfilling requests. Importantly, the first hour of service will be provided free of charge, and agencies are limited to charging a maximum of $25 per hour for additional services. The bill also mandates that agencies designate a contact for public information requests on their websites and publish a public information request process by November 1, 2026.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify the obligations of public agencies in responding to requests, including the requirement to provide estimates of time and fees when information is not readily identifiable. It allows individuals to file actions in district court if agencies fail to meet response deadlines and requires agencies to provide statistics on public information requests. The effective date for most provisions is set for October 1, 2025, with certain sections becoming effective on July 1, 2026, and a termination date for one section established for June 30, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1(1): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1(2): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1(3): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1(4): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1(5): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1(6): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1(7): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1(8): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_1: 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(1): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(10): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(11): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(12): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(13): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(14): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(15): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(2): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(3): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(4): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(5): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(6): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(7): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(8): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2(9): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_2: 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(1): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(10): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(2): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(3): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(4): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(5): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(6): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(7): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(8): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3(9): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_3: 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(1): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(10): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(2): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(3): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(4): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(5): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(6): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(7): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(8): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X(9): 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009
HB0100_X: 2-6-1006, 2-6-1009