House Bill No. introduced by A. Regier and M. Noland aims to enhance the protection of minors from accessing obscene content on devices via the internet. The bill mandates that all devices activated in Montana on or after January 1, 2026, must include a filter designed to prevent minors from accessing such content. It establishes liability for device manufacturers who fail to enable these filters and for individuals who remove the filters from devices used by minors. The bill also provides definitions for key terms such as "device," "filter," "minor," and "obscene content," and outlines the responsibilities of manufacturers and individuals regarding the activation and management of these filters.

Additionally, the bill allows parents or legal guardians to take civil action against manufacturers if a minor accesses obscene content due to a failure to implement the required filter. It specifies the damages that can be recovered, including actual damages, punitive damages for willful violations, and attorney fees. The bill also clarifies that it does not apply to devices manufactured before the effective date and includes provisions for codification and the effective date of the law. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a safer online environment for minors by holding manufacturers and individuals accountable for ensuring that appropriate filters are in place.