House Bill No. [insert number] aims to revise laws regarding legislative privilege and public access to legislative bill drafting files in Montana. The bill establishes that legislative bill drafting files are public records and must be made available upon request. It clarifies that while the Speech or Debate clause in the Montana Constitution provides legislators with immunity from prosecution for legitimate legislative acts, it does not grant complete protection from disclosure under public records laws. Specifically, the bill protects an individual legislator's private writings and communications with their personal staff from disclosure, but waives this protection if the legislator shares such documents with others. Additionally, communications between legislators and chamber or legislative branch staff are not protected and can be disclosed under public records requests.

The bill includes several new sections that define the contents of legislative bill drafting files, outline the conditions under which legislative privilege applies, and establish severability and codification instructions. It emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in government while balancing the public's right to know with the need to protect legislators from undue prosecution for their legislative activities. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.