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MontanaSB 48869th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Generally revise consumer protection laws

Sponsored By: Mark Noland (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Consumer Protection

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Age checks for adult websites

Websites where more than 33 1/3% of content is harmful to minors must use reasonable age checks. Acceptable checks include a digitized ID or a verified system that uses a government ID or trusted transaction data. Parents and guardians can seek damages and reasonable attorney fees if a site fails to check ages. A site or its vendor cannot keep your identifying information after granting access. Only individuals seeking damages can enforce these rules; the state no longer brings these cases.

Crackdown on fake online reviews

The law makes false, misleading, or deceptive consumer reviews illegal, tracking FTC rules (16 CFR part 465). The Department of Justice can write rules but must stay consistent with FTC interpretations and federal court decisions. The state can bring a consumer‑protection case up to five years after it discovers the unlawful practice.

Deadline for private consumer suits

If you bring an individual (non‑class) consumer case under Montana law, you must file within the time set in 27‑2‑211. This ties your deadline to that existing state filing rule.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark Noland

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Tracy Sharp

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 292 • No: 6

House vote • 4/1/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 97 • No: 2

House vote • 3/31/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 98 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 47 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    4/18/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor

    4/17/2025Senate

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/8/2025Senate

  4. Signed by Speaker

    4/8/2025House

  5. Signed by President

    4/7/2025Senate

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/2/2025Senate

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/1/2025Senate

  8. 3rd Reading

    4/1/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading

    3/31/2025House

  10. Committee Report

    3/27/2025House

  11. Committee Executive Action

    3/27/2025House

  12. Hearing

    3/19/2025House

  13. 1st Reading

    3/17/2025House

  14. Referred to Committee

    3/17/2025House

  15. Transmitted to House

    3/7/2025Senate

  16. 3rd Reading

    3/6/2025Senate

  17. 2nd Reading

    3/6/2025Senate

  18. Committee Report

    3/4/2025Senate

  19. Committee Executive Action

    3/4/2025Senate

  20. Hearing

    3/3/2025Senate

  21. Fiscal Note Printed

    3/3/2025Senate

  22. Fiscal Note Unsigned

    3/3/2025Senate

  23. Fiscal Note Received

    3/3/2025Senate

  24. Hearing Canceled

    3/1/2025Senate

  25. Hearing

    2/27/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    6/4/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/25/2025

    PDF

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