The bill aims to revise existing laws regarding executive exemptions to public records requests in Montana, specifically narrowing the scope of such exemptions. It allows the governor to assert an executive exemption only when the individual privacy interest clearly outweighs the merits of public disclosure, and explicitly states that the governor does not have a privacy interest in public information related to policy, politics, or legislative matters. The bill also establishes that the executive exemption must be narrowly tailored and expires once the underlying issue is resolved, with provisions for waiving the exemption if the information is disclosed to a third party.

Additionally, the bill amends definitions related to public records and confidentiality, removing the requirement for the award of costs and reasonable attorney fees for a prevailing party in public records litigation. It revises sections of the Montana Code Annotated, specifically 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, and 90-1-105, to reflect these changes and ensure better access to public information while maintaining a balance with individual privacy rights. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_1(1): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_1(2): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_1(3): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_1(4): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_1(5): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_1(6): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_1(7): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_1: 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(1): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(10): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(11): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(12): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(13): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(14): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(2): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(3): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(4): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(5): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(6): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(7): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(8): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2(9): 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_2: 2-6-1002, 2-6-1009, 90-1-105
HB0271_X(1): 2-6-1002, 90-1-105
HB0271_X(2): 2-6-1002, 90-1-105
HB0271_X(3): 2-6-1002, 90-1-105
HB0271_X(4): 2-6-1002, 90-1-105
HB0271_X(5): 2-6-1002, 90-1-105
HB0271_X(6): 2-6-1002, 90-1-105
HB0271_X(7): 2-6-1002, 90-1-105
HB0271_X(8): 2-6-1002, 90-1-105
HB0271_X: 2-6-1002, 90-1-105