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House Judiciary Hears Contentious Bill That Would Create State Crime of Human Smuggling
Summary
Representative Cathy Love's HB 709 would create a Montana smuggling offense with seizure and tax consequences; witnesses split sharply between law-enforcement and border-focused proponents and domestic-violence, faith and nonprofit opponents who warned the bill's wording could criminalize shelters and caregivers.
The House Judiciary Committee heard House Bill 709, introduced by Representative Cathy Love (House District 85), which would create a state-level crime of human smuggling and add penalties including seizure of property and tax consequences for certain convicted entities.
Sponsor opening: Representative Love told the committee HB 709 fills a perceived statutory gap by defining human smuggling and aligning penalties with existing trafficking statutes. She said the bill was drafted with Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security input and framed it as a necessary tool to go after people who transport, house, or facilitate the movement of people who have entered the United States unlawfully.
Proponents: Local speakers and online supporters described violent exploitation and cartel activity at the border and asked the committee to adopt tougher penalties. Bill Luessenhied and Doug Bohn recounted…
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