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MontanaSB 21269th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET

Creating the Right to Compute Act and requiring shutdowns of AI controlled critical infrastructure

Sponsored By: Daniel Zolnikov (Republican)

Became Law

Information Technology

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

AI safety plans for critical infrastructure

When AI helps run a critical facility, the deployer must make a risk management plan. The plan is created after deployment and must be reasonable. It must consider recognized safety frameworks like NIST or ISO. A plan that meets federal requirements counts as compliance.

Right to own and use computing tools

The state cannot broadly ban private use of computers or cloud services. Any limit must be necessary, narrow, and for a compelling reason. This protects lawful owners and users of computing tools.

Intellectual property and federal rules preserved

The law does not change patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret rights. It also says state law does not override federal law. When federal rules apply, they control even if state rules differ.

Key definitions for AI and compute

The law defines terms like artificial intelligence system, deployer, and computational resources. It lists what counts as critical AI and what is excluded. These definitions decide who gets protections and who must follow rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Daniel Zolnikov

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Curtis Schomer

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 220 • No: 77

Senate vote • 3/28/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 61 • No: 38

Senate vote • 3/27/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 60 • No: 39

Senate vote • 3/1/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/28/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    4/17/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor

    4/16/2025Senate

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/8/2025Senate

  4. Signed by Speaker

    4/8/2025House

  5. Signed by President

    4/2/2025Senate

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    3/30/2025Senate

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    3/28/2025Senate

  8. 3rd Reading Concurred

    3/28/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Concurred

    3/27/2025House

  10. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    3/21/2025House

  11. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    3/21/2025House

  12. Hearing

    3/13/2025House

  13. First Reading

    3/3/2025House

  14. Referred to Committee

    3/3/2025House

  15. Transmitted to House

    3/1/2025Senate

  16. 3rd Reading Passed

    3/1/2025Senate

  17. 2nd Reading Passed

    2/28/2025Senate

  18. Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

    2/26/2025Senate

  19. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

    2/25/2025Senate

  20. Hearing

    1/30/2025Senate

  21. Referred to Committee

    1/27/2025Senate

  22. First Reading

    1/27/2025Senate

  23. Introduced

    1/24/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    3/28/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/26/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/24/2025

    PDF

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