Committee clears technical fixes to Consumer Protection Act and definition clarifications

Senate Bill 4-88, a cleanup bill for the Montana Consumer Protection Act, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee after the Office of Consumer Protection described three housekeeping changes: (1) incorporate the Federal Trade Commission’s final rule banning deceptive consumer reviews into state statute to remove uncertainty; (2) clarify the statute‑of‑limitations language that applies when the Attorney General or private parties pursue civil penalties; and (3) remove a provision the department concluded it lacks resources to enforce effectively.

Why it matters: The revisions are technical and intended to reduce confusion and clarify enforcement timelines. DOJ’s consumer‑protection bureau told the committee it preferred codifying the FTC rule to remove public‑facing ambiguity about enforcement of fake or misleading online reviews.

Testimony and debate: Brent Mead, bureau chief for the Office of Consumer Protection, summarized the changes and said the department would continue to rely on private‑party suits for certain matters that are resource intensive. No organized opposition appeared and sponsors described the bill as noncontroversial.

Committee action and next steps: The committee advanced the bill; sponsor and agency staff said no further substantive change was planned.

Ending: The measure prepares to move to the Senate floor for consideration. Because the changes are technical, sponsors asked for prompt consideration.