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Montana senators hear bill to establish a ‘right to compute’ and require AI infrastructure planning
Summary
A Senate Energy Committee hearing on Senate Bill 212 centered on a proposed state “right to compute,” industry enthusiasm for data centers, and widespread concern about a provision requiring shutdown/disable capabilities for AI-controlled critical infrastructure; no formal action was taken.
Senator Daniel Zolomikov, sponsor of Senate Bill 212, told the Senate Energy Committee that the bill would establish a state policy framework recognizing a “right to compute” while carving out narrow government interests for regulation. “All AI is, is more inputs, better outputs,” Zolomikov said, urging the committee to back a law that encourages data centers and other computational investment in Montana.
Supporters told senators the bill would help position Montana to attract data center and AI investment while protecting fundamental rights. Tanner Avery, policy director at the Frontier Institute, said SB 212 “enables this by creating a new state policy framework for regulating the private…
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