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 using funds for memberships, goods, or services from organizations that discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. Additionally, the bill restricts the expenditure of funds on programs advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as on political or social activism. The bill provides definitions for key terms and outlines the scope of the prohibitions.
The bill grants investigatory authority to the Attorney General, who is empowered to investigate alleged violations and adopt rules for such investigations. The provisions of the bill are intended to be codified as a new chapter in Title 49 of the Montana Code, with an effective date set for July 1, 2025.