Take Action to Support Immigrants!
Stay informed and take action in the Montana State Legislature.
Here at Soft Landing Missoula we are doing our best to stay up to date with all the bills that may affect the immigrant population in our community and across the state of Montana. We know it can be a challenge to keep up with it all so we have created a current guide to immigrant related bills this Montana legislative session. Below you find a series of bills, what they mean and our stance on them. While we have provided some talking points, the most powerful message you can give can be your own experiences and story.
Below this list of bills, you will find information on how to take action to contact your legislators and/or committees that are hearing these bills.
Support
Summary: This bill, sponsored by Ed Staffman (D) HD59 Bozeman, proposes the establishment of a driver’s privilege card in Montana. This card would allow residents who cannot prove legal presence in the United States to obtain a driver’s license after meeting all other requirements, such as passing driving tests and obtaining insurance. Legmt page for HB275.
Talking Points: A driving privilege card would significantly improve road safety and accountability by ensuring that all drivers are trained, tested, licensed, and insured. Currently, individuals may choose to drive without proper training or insurance, posing a risk to all road users. This card would also greatly benefit vulnerable residents, including immigrants, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those re-entering society after incarceration, by providing a recognized form of identification crucial for securing housing, employment, and accessing essential services.
Summary: This bill, sponsored by Connie Keogh (D) HD 92 Missoula, seeks to provide dedicated state funding to school districts for English Language Learners (ELLs). It establishes provisions for the allocation and use of these funds and sets reporting requirements to ensure accountability. Legmt page for HB361.
Talking Points: Montana is one of only two states without specific state-allocated K-12 funding for ELL programs. This funding would benefit a diverse group of children, including American Indian children, Hutterite children, American-born children of immigrants, children who come to the United States with their parents or alone, children who are adopted internationally by American parents and children from low literacy backgrounds. This bill does two important things: Provides a funding formula for state funding for ELL and provides incentive for professional development for teachers who certify to teach ELL. Equipping teachers with specific skills to effectively support ELL children in their classes is crucial to making sure the entire classroom can thrive. Addressing the literacy gap for children is vital, as children not reading at grade level by 3rd grade are less likely to finish high school. Montana’s schools will continue to have a growing population in need of ELL services.
Oppose
Summary: This bill, sponsored by Caleb Hinkle (R) HD68 Belgrade, would allow the state to double prosecute non-citizen individuals if they commit a crime in Montana and permits the state to hold or transfer them to federal custody at their discretion. Legmt page for HB214.
Talking Points: Soft Landing Missoula opposes this bill because: 1. Crimes that happen in the State of Montana are already fully prosecuted by the state – regardless of immigration status. This bill creates a second crime of “committing a crime while being a non-citizen”, effectively double prosecuting an individual who is already being fully prosecuted for a crime under state law. 2. For an immigrant who commits a crime in the State of Montana, any Federal proceedings that may take place due to immigration violations usually happen after a person has been fully prosecuted and punished accordingly by the state. This bill could change that by stating that a person in criminal proceedings can be turned over to Federal officers at the state’s discretion, even if the prosecution is still pending and no conviction has been made, ie: before the person is deemed innocent or not innocent. 3. In general, this bill makes it a priority of the State of Montana to double convict and lock up immigrants with minor convictions over major offenses by citizens. With only so much space in our prisons and limited capacity in our courts, this bill could strain state resources and potentially displace the prosecution of other, more serious crimes affecting Montana citizens. 4. We trust our local police and prosecutors to do their jobs and keep our communities safe. Their priority is and should be keeping Montanans safe. This bill takes precious resources away from the hands of our local communities. 5. The insidious nature of this bill compounds minor crimes and therefore may significantly affect an immigrant’s employment, housing, and path to becoming a naturalized citizen.
Summary: This bill, sponsored by Nelly Nicol (R) HD53 Billings, would allow police officers during a lawful stop to inquire about an individual’s immigration status and mandates the reporting of individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally to federal authorities. Legmt page for HB278.
Talking Points: Soft Landing Missoula opposes this bill because it diverts law enforcement resources from legitimate public safety priorities. Involving local police in immigration enforcement erodes trust within immigrant communities, making it less likely for individuals to report crimes or cooperate with investigations, ultimately undermining public safety for everyone. Bills such as these lead to racial profiling and discrimination, violating the civil rights of individuals and creating a climate of fear within immigrant communities. It also leaves localities open to costly legal fees and court cases due to violations of civil rights. The vast majority of local law enforcement programs oppose this bill.
Summary: This bill, sponsored by Courtenay Sprunger (R) HD7 Kalispell, requires employers to verify the legal work status of employees before hiring them using E-Verify or I-9, authorizes the department of labor and industry to enforce compliance through inspections, investigations and penalties. It imposes fines for violations and allows for license suspensions for repeat offenders. It creates a special fund for enforcement and education, and ‘ensures MT’s laws are aligned with federal immigration and labor laws’. Legmt page for HB226.
Talking Points: Soft Landing Missoula opposes this bill due to concerns about the accuracy and reliability of E-Verify, as it has been known to generate errors, falsely identifying authorized workers as ineligible. The system is expensive for small businesses, and the system makes employers liable for gathering and keeping sensitive information that they would not otherwise have to do. E-Verify laws decrease state revenue (undocumented immigrants provide crucial labor and substantial tax contributions) and create opportunities for unlawful discrimination (E-Verify provides incentives for employers to subject employees to unnecessary documentary demands based on employees’ citizenship or national origin or employers’ perceptions about ethnicity). This bill also opens employers to law suits based on unlawful discrimination.
Summary: This bill, sponsored by Theresa Manzella, (R) SD44 Hamilton, requires Montana driver’s licenses and ID cards to display a citizenship status indicator, an eagle, to show they are a US citizen. Legmt page for SB91.
Talking Points: Soft Landing Missoula opposes this bill because REAL-ID goes into effect in 2025, which is a national system that verifies people have lawful immigration status. This state law provides no value and leads to a slippery slope of mandatory ID markers for private circumstances (religion, political affiliation, etc..) that could affect an individuals interactions in places where an ID must be provided.
Summary: This proposal, sponsored by Tracy Sharp (R) HD12 Polson, aims to invalidate driver’s licenses issued by other states to undocumented immigrants, rendering them invalid within Montana. Legmt page for HB469.
Talking Points: Individuals are allowed to drive in the State of Montana with a drivers license from any state. Invalidating out-of-state driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants would create significant hardships for individuals and families, limiting their access to employment, healthcare, education, and other essential services. This could lead to increased social isolation and economic vulnerability within immigrant communities.
It’s going to take all of us to create a Montana where there is justice, safety, and dignity for all. This means that we need YOU to contact your legislator this legislative session.
How to Take Action!
Call the capitol switchboard at
406-444-4800
- The switchboard is open 7 AM to 5:30 PM M-F.
- State your name, where you’re located, and ask to leave a message Supporting / Opposing the bill you are calling about.
Submit public comment
- There’s a new system for leaving message to legislators this year that does require you to create an account. You’ll need to go to legmt.gov/participate .
- Be sure to enter in your email address and press verify to get a confirmation code. Note: You will not be able to proceed forward in the form if you do not complete this first step.
Sign-Up to testify
- To testify virtually, go to legmt.gov/participate. Like submitting a public comment, you will need to create an account first and verify your email.
- You need to sign up to testify virtually at least two hours before the hearing.
- In your testimony, be sure to say, “Chair and members of the committee, my name is [insert full name and spell out your last name] and I live in [insert place in MT]. I’m here to SUPPORT / OPPOSE [HB/SB #] for [insert your reason]. Close by saying: [Thank you for your time and please vote YES/ NO on this bill.]
Not sure who your legislators are? To find out who your legislators are, please visit https://www.legmt.gov/districts/
Have questions? Need more support?
For more detailed instructions on how to submit written testimony, or testify virtually or in-person, you can check out these helpful tips.
Telling our stories to those who hold power can be scary! You don’t have to do it alone. If you need support in contacting your legislator, this support is available through Catalyst MT. Drop in to their weekly office hours every Tuesday from 5 to 6pm. You can find more information and the Zoom link to join here.
Thank you to Catalyst MT for helping us and all Montanans learn how to access and participate in the Montana legislative session!
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