# Montana HB 292: Establish the uniform public expression protection act Montana HB 292, Establish the uniform public expression protection act, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Tom Millett (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-05 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB292-2025 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Montana HB 292 - State: Montana - Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) - Title: Establish the uniform public expression protection act - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-22 - Last action: 2025-05-05, Chapter Number Assigned - Sponsor: Tom Millett (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Civil Procedure - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 7 (594 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Fast dismissal and pause on lawsuits: benefit, medium. If you are served with a covered claim, you can file a special motion to dismiss within 60 days. Filing the motion pauses other steps in the case, including discovery, until the court rules and appeal time ends. The court must hold a hearing within 60 days (or later for discovery or good cause) and… - Who this speech-protection law covers: benefit, medium. This law protects people sued for speaking on public issues. It covers statements in government meetings, statements about issues under government review, and speech, press, assembly, petition, and association on matters of public concern. It does not cover suits against government actors, emergenc… - When the law starts and applies: benefit, low. The law takes effect on passage and approval. It applies to civil actions filed or causes of action asserted on or after that date. Older cases keep the old rules. The law is placed in Title 27, and courts aim for uniform results with other states that adopt the same model. - When courts must dismiss these cases: mixed, medium. The court must dismiss the claim with prejudice if this law applies and the other side cannot show an exception. Dismissal is required if the other side fails to make a basic case on each element, or you show they failed to state a claim or there is no real factual dispute. The judge considers the… - Who pays fees on dismissal motions: mixed, medium. If you win the special motion, the court orders the other side to pay your court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and related litigation expenses. If the other side wins and the court finds your motion was frivolous or meant only to delay, the court orders you to pay their costs, fees, and expenses. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Tom Millett (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-15 | House | Do Concur | pass | 96 | 1 | | | 2025-04-14 | House | Do Concur | pass | 100 | 0 | | | 2025-04-02 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 50 | 0 | | | 2025-04-01 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 49 | 1 | | | 2025-02-13 | House | Do Pass | pass | 99 | 0 | | | 2025-02-11 | House | Do Pass As Amended | pass | 100 | 0 | | | 2025-02-11 | House | AMD-HB0292.001.001 Millett DO PASS | pass | 100 | 0 | | ## Actions (26) - 2025-05-05: Chapter Number Assigned (House) - 2025-05-01: Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-04-22: Transmitted to Governor (House) - 2025-04-22: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-04-18: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-04-15: Returned from Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-15: Sent to Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-15: 3rd Reading Senate Amendments (House) - 2025-04-14: 2nd Reading Senate Amendments (House) - 2025-04-02: Returned to House with Amendments (Senate) - 2025-04-02: 3rd Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-01: 2nd Reading (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Committee Report (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Committee Executive Action (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Referred to Committee (Senate) - 2025-02-14: Transmitted to Senate (House) - 2025-02-13: 3rd Reading (House) - 2025-02-11: 2nd Reading (House) - 2025-02-11: 2nd Reading Motion to Amend (House) - 2025-02-06: Committee Report (House) - 2025-02-06: Committee Executive Action (House) - 2025-01-28: Hearing (House) - 2025-01-23: 1st Reading (House) - 2025-01-23: Referred to Committee (House) - 2025-01-22: Introduced (House) ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-04-15: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=cb5bf8c2-551c-43ef-9ade-ebdde516b3ad) - As Amended (Version 3), 2025-03-25: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=9cf0e070-85f8-4771-b77c-32ba928bee5e) - As Amended (Version 2), 2025-02-11: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=e0ab86a4-8dc8-4b18-83a1-b7db8446e9c6) - Introduced, 2025-01-22: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=064027ff-8a7e-4516-ab4d-b9714d4a935a) ## Related bills - SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed) - HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed) - HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed) - SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed) - SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed) - SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=cb5bf8c2-551c-43ef-9ade-ebdde516b3ad) - [As Amended (Version 3) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=9cf0e070-85f8-4771-b77c-32ba928bee5e) - [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=e0ab86a4-8dc8-4b18-83a1-b7db8446e9c6) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=064027ff-8a7e-4516-ab4d-b9714d4a935a) ## Related - [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025) - [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025) - [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025) - [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025) - [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025) - [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025) - [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills) - [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB292-2025 (as of 2026-10-12).