Senate Bill No. introduced by K. Bogner aims to prohibit discrimination related to firearms in insurance and financial matters. The bill establishes a legislative purpose to protect individuals, groups, and businesses from discrimination based on their possession or advocacy for firearms, firearm ammunition, or accessories. It includes definitions for terms such as "ammunition," "firearm," and "entity," and emphasizes that discrimination against individuals for exercising their right to bear arms is a violation of the Montana Constitution.
The bill mandates that any entity seeking to offer insurance or financial services in Montana must provide a certificate of nondiscrimination, certifying that they will not discriminate based on firearms. This certificate will be a public record, and violations of the nondiscrimination policy can result in fines up to $5,000 per day. The bill also allows individuals harmed by violations to seek legal recourse in district court, including compensatory and punitive damages. Additionally, it clarifies that the provisions do not apply to employer-employee contracts or workplace policies.