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MontanaSB 29769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET

Generally revise privacy laws

Sponsored By: Daniel Zolnikov (Republican)

Became Law

PrivacyCommunicationsMinors

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Your data rights and deadlines

You can ask a company if it uses your personal data and get a copy. You can correct, delete, or get a portable copy of your data, and opt out of targeted ads, sale, and profiling with legal effects. The company must answer within 45 days and may extend once by up to 45 more days if it tells you within the first 45 days. You get one free response every 12 months; companies may charge or refuse requests that are unfounded, excessive, infeasible, or repetitive. Companies may require authentication for requests, but not for opt-outs, and they must offer an appeal process with a decision in 60 days. In responses, they must not disclose sensitive IDs like Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, account numbers, passwords, or biometrics.

Many institutions are exempt from rules

Many groups are outside these state privacy rules. Examples include state and local agencies, certain nonprofits, colleges and universities, banks and credit unions under GLBA, HIPAA‑covered health entities and records, insurers, and FERPA education records. Some federally regulated data like credit reporting and driver data are also exempt. People using those services have narrower state‑level privacy protections.

Clear consent, ads, and data rules

Consent must be a clear, informed, and active choice. Dark patterns and passive actions do not count. The law defines targeted ads as ads built from your activity across non‑affiliated sites or apps; contextual ads and first‑party ads are not targeted ads. It defines a “sale” of data and excludes several transfers, like sharing with processors or affiliates, legal or security disclosures, and mergers—so opt‑outs do not cover those. Sensitive data includes race, religion, health, sexual life, citizenship status, genetic or biometric IDs, data about known children, and precise location. Precise location means within 1,750 feet. Companies holding de‑identified data must keep it unlinked, publicly commit to use it only in de‑identified form, and bind recipients to the same rules.

Stronger privacy rules for kids' data

The law defines key K‑12 data terms so schools and app operators know what pupil data is protected. Protected information includes identifiable details a pupil or parent provides when using K‑12 online apps, plus pupil records and pupil‑generated content. If a company follows federal COPPA rules for verifiable parental consent, it also meets this state’s parental consent standard.

More companies now covered by law

The law covers companies with data on 25,000 or more consumers. It also covers companies with data on 15,000 or more consumers if over 25% of their revenue comes from selling data. Data used only to finish a payment does not count toward these totals.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Daniel Zolnikov

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 490 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/14/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

AMD-SB0297.003.002 Zolnikov DO PASS

Yes: 96 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

Do Pass As Amended

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/21/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/13/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/8/2025Senate

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/1/2025Senate

  4. Signed by Speaker

    5/1/2025House

  5. Signed by President

    4/22/2025Senate

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/16/2025Senate

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/15/2025Senate

  8. 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House

    4/15/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading House Amendments Concurred

    4/14/2025Senate

  10. Returned to Senate with Amendments

    4/11/2025House

  11. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/11/2025House

  12. 2nd Reading Concurred as Amended

    4/9/2025House

  13. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried

    4/9/2025House

  14. Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended

    3/27/2025House

  15. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended

    3/27/2025House

  16. Hearing

    3/19/2025House

  17. First Reading

    2/25/2025House

  18. Referred to Committee

    2/25/2025House

  19. Transmitted to House

    2/24/2025Senate

  20. 3rd Reading Passed

    2/24/2025Senate

  21. 2nd Reading Passed

    2/21/2025Senate

  22. Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended

    2/19/2025Senate

  23. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended

    2/19/2025Senate

  24. Hearing

    2/18/2025Senate

  25. Referred to Committee

    2/12/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 4)

    4/9/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    3/27/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/19/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/11/2025

    PDF

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