Montana Government Use of Artificial Intelligence Law (HB 178)
Montana · Mont. HB 178 (2025) (Ch. 427); codified in Title 2, MCA
Montana restricts how state and local government use AI. A government entity or state officer may not use an AI system to manipulate a person or group, to classify people in ways that cause unlawful discrimination or disparate impact, for a malicious purpose, or to surveil public spaces (with narrow exceptions). Government must disclose AI-produced material that no qualified human reviewed and disclose public-facing AI interfaces. Any AI recommendation or decision that could affect a person's rights, duties, or privileges must be reviewed by a qualified human who can reject or change it.
Technical detail
HB 178 (2025), codified in Title 2, MCA, prohibits enumerated government uses of AI systems, requires disclosure of unreviewed AI-generated material and AI public interfaces (with a peace-officer investigative exemption), and requires human review of AI recommendations/decisions affecting rights, duties, or privileges.
Who is protected: Members of the public interacting with or affected by Montana state and local government AI use.
Who must comply: Montana government entities and state officers.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Montana |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2025-10-01 |
| Enacted | 2025-05-08 |
| Citation | Mont. HB 178 (2025) (Ch. 427); codified in Title 2, MCA |
| Enforced by | Not specified in the act; no dedicated enforcement agency or penalty provision is named. |
| Topics | government use of AI · automated decision-making · facial recognition |
| Last verified | 2026-06-16 |
| Official source | Montana HB 178 (2025) Enrolled Bill (Ch. 427) — Limit Government Use of AI Systems ↗ |
More AI rules in Montana
- Montana MCDPA · In effect
- MT Election Deepfake Law · In effect
- MT Right to Compute Act · In effect
- Montana SB 413 (crime to share explicit deepfakes) · In effect
- Montana HB 514 (sextortion deepfakes in privacy crime) · In effect
- Montana HB 513 (property right in voice & likeness vs. deepfakes) · In effect
Related government use of AI rules elsewhere
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Arkansas public entity AI/ADS policy mandate (Act 848, 2025) · In effect
- One-year moratorium on data center development (Inver Grove Heights MN) · In effect
- FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- San Marcos citywide data center ban (Land Use Matrix amendme · In effect
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