Montana recently amended its privacy law through Senate Bill 297, effective October 1, 2025, strengthening consumer protections and requiring businesses to revisit their privacy policies that apply to citizens of Montana. Importantly, it lowered the threshold for applicability to persons and businesses who control or process the personal data of 25,000 or more
Montana Enacts Genetic Information Privacy Law
- Offers consumer genetic testing products or services
Montana Passes 9th Comprehensive Consumer Privacy Law in the U.S.
On May 19, 2023, Montana’s Governor signed Senate Bill 384, the Consumer Data Privacy Act. Montana joins California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia in enacting a comprehensive consumer privacy law. The law is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2024.
When
Indiana Beats Montana and Tennessee to be the 7th State with a Comprehensive Consumer Privacy Law
On May 1, 2023, Governor Holcomb signed Senate Bill 5, Indiana’s comprehensive privacy statute (The Act). the Act will become operative on January 1, 2026, and make Indiana the seventh state, after California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Utah, and Virginia to enact a comprehensive consumer privacy statute.
Indiana beat Montana
Montana to Join Growing List of States Limiting Access to Social Media?
Earlier this month, legislators in Montana gave final approval to H.B. 342 which would limit an employer’s ability to access the personal social media accounts of applicants and employees. The bill now goes to Governor Steve Bullock’s (D) office for consideration.
If signed, Montana would join become the most recent state to join the list
Maryland Restricts Employer Use of Credit History Information
On April 12, 2011, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law S.B. 132/H.B. 87. Under this law, Maryland employers, except in limited circumstances, are prohibited from using an individual’s consumer credit history for hiring or other employment purposes. 
Beginning October 1, 2011, employers are prohibited from using credit report data to deny employment, discharge an
Florida, Michigan, and Montana Follow National Trend and Consider Banning the Use of Applicant Credit History Background Checks in Hiring Decisions
In the face of increasing unemployment, in March 2011, Florida, Michigan, and Montana joined the ranks of approximately fifteen other states that are considering bills limiting employers’ ability to use credit checks for employment purposes.
Florida. Florida’s Senate Bill 1562, introduced on March 3, would prohibit employers from using an applicant’s personal credit history