Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate concurs in bill authorizing peace officers to check immigration status during lawful stops
Summary
The Senate concurred in House Bill 278, authorizing peace officers to check and report a person’s immigration status during a lawful stop; supporters said the bill does not create new reasons to stop a person, while opponents warned of profiling risks.
The Montana Senate on March 31 concurred in House Bill 278, a measure authorizing peace officers to check and report a person’s immigration status during a lawful stop.
Senator Glynn (carrying the motion on the floor) introduced the bill as authorizing an immigration-status check during an otherwise lawful traffic or investigatory stop, emphasizing that it does not create a new basis for initiating a stop. Senator Windy Boy spoke in opposition on civil‑liberties grounds, saying he would vote no because of concerns about profiling and expanded enforcement impacts for certain communities. Senator Asher responded that the bill addresses checks during lawful stops and argued it provides lawful authority rather than creating new grounds to stop a person.
The Senate advanced the bill on second reading; the record in the floor excerpt shows concurrence in the House amendments but does not include a roll-call tally in the quoted excerpt. Sponsor remarks emphasized the bill applies only once an officer has a lawful stop in place and asserted it clarifies authority for checks; opponents said the policy risks coercive or discriminatory enforcement.
The bill will proceed through the legislative process for additional steps per the session’s calendar.
