Montana HB 178 (limits on government AI use)
Montana Government Use of Artificial Intelligence Law (HB 178)
Montana · Mont. HB 178 (2025) (Ch. 427); codified in Title 2, MCA
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- October 1, 2025
- Applies to
- Montana government entities and state officers.
- Enforced by
- Not specified in the act; no dedicated enforcement agency or penalty provision is named.
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.
Who is protected: Members of the public interacting with or affected by Montana state and local government AI use.
Legal 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.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Montana |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | May 8, 2025 |
| Citation | Mont. HB 178 (2025) (Ch. 427); codified in Title 2, MCA |
| Topics | government use of AI · automated decision-making · facial recognition |
| Bill text | Montana HB 178 (2025) Enrolled Bill (Ch. 427) — Limit Government Use of AI Systems |
More AI rules in Montana
- Montana MCDPA · In effect
- Montana SB 25 election deepfakes — preliminarily enjoined as to plaintiff (2026) · 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
- Inver Grove Heights MN data center moratorium amended under lawsuit (2026) · In effect
- FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform tariffs on… · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- San Marcos citywide data center ban (Land Use Matrix amendment) · In effect
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