“Legislative privilege is personal to the legislator; it does not protect lobbyists and cannot be used to obscure private sector influence,” the judge wrote in his order.

Helena Independent Record

Helena

Lewis and Clark County

Montana

United States

Judge says Montana legislators' bill-crafting communications must be public

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Lee Enterprises

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – A recent challenge to Montana's constitution was denied, maintaining the state's strict right-to-know provisions. The Montana District Court in Great Falls ruled that the Legislative Services Division must continue to produce legislative documents for public access.

ABC FOX Montana

Cowles Company

Missoula

Missoula County

Montana court upholds public access to legislative documents

Back-channel communications between Montana lawmakers, lobbyists and stakeholders when drafting bills are once again open to the public under a court order issued Tuesday in Great Falls.Cascade County District Court Judge John Kutzman ordered Montana legislative staff to stop redacting details about who state lawmakers were communicating with when developing legislation. Such material had been public for more than 30 years, but in September 2024…

Montana Free Press

Legislative records that shine a light on bill drafting process public again, judge orders

The Montana state capitol pictured after a late-night Senate vote on Jan. 9, 2025. (Micah Drew/Daily Montanan)A Cascade County District Court judge has ordered that files maintained by legislative staff that contain information related to drafting and supporting legislation will once again be immediately opened after the order was released on Tuesday morning. Cascade County District Court Judge John Kutzman made the decision that would open the …

Daily Montanan

Cascade County judge says legislative 'junque' files are public records and must be open • Daily Montanan

Senate

Judge says Montana legislators' bill-crafting communications must be public

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