House Bill No. introduced by G. Nikolakakos and others establishes the "Montana Individual Freedom Act," which aims to prohibit state and local government agencies, including the Department of Military Affairs, from spending funds on memberships, goods, or services from organizations that discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. Additionally, the bill restricts these agencies from using funds to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives or engage in political or social activism. The bill includes definitions for key terms and outlines the scope of the prohibitions.
The bill grants the Attorney General investigatory authority to enforce these provisions and allows for the adoption of rules to establish procedures for investigating violations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is intended to be codified as a new chapter in Title 49 of the Montana Code.