State Auditor James Brown requests IT modernization, outreach authority and expanded reinsurance spending authority

James Brown, Montana state auditor and ex officio commissioner of insurance and securities, told the Legislature's Section A budget subcommittee that his office is seeking additional spending authority for IT modernization, continued investor outreach and larger federal and state spending authority tied to the Montana Reinsurance Program.

Brown, who said he has served in the job for 15 days, described the auditor's office as a large revenue-generating agency that regulates insurance and securities, supports capital formation and handles consumer complaints. "The office is the 3rd largest generator of state revenue collecting just over 250,000,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2024," Brown said, and he told members the office contributed roughly $144,000,000 to the state's general fund in fiscal 2024.

Why this matters: the auditor's office administers regulatory reviews, the Montana Reinsurance Program for the individual insurance market, and pass-through funding for local police and firefighter retirement programs;…