Montana lawmaker seeks to bar U.N., WHO and WEF from state jurisdiction with HB 350

Representative Jedidiah Hinkle (R., House District 67) introduced House Bill 350 on the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations committee’s agenda, asking legislators to declare that foreign intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum have no jurisdiction in Montana. Hinkle handed out a copy of an attorney general’s letter and said similar laws have been passed in other states.

Hinkle told the committee he became interested in the issue after hearing the attorney general discuss concerns that the WHO’s International Health Regulations and a prospective WHO pandemic treaty could give scope to measures such as quarantines, testing requirements for travelers, or digital health‑passport systems. "Foreign intergovernmental organizations such as United Nations, World Health Organization, and the World Economic Forum have no jurisdiction in Montana," he said when introducing the bill.

Three proponents gave testimony in support. Anna Shimelynin (online) said she spoke for herself and immigrants who fled communist regimes and argued Montana has the Tenth Amendment authority to refuse federal overreach; Jolene Crum (Gallatin County), who described a background in biotechnology and membership in Montanans for Medical Freedom, said the three organizations functionally operate together and should all be named in statute; and Cheryl Ross (Billings) urged a yes vote, describing concerns about what she called the "Great Reset." "Passing HB 350 into law is crucial as a preemptive measure to ensure that Montanans are protected against globalist dictatorship," Ross said.

During questions, Representative Sharp and others asked whether the U.S. can make treaties with multinational organizations and how a federal treaty would translate to state law. Hinkle answered that the federal government can enter treaties but acknowledged uncertainty over how any treaty obligations would bind states; he said the bill is intended as a state‑level protective measure and noted the bill received a review from the Department of Attorney General's office.

The hearing concluded without a committee vote; Chair Perry closed the HB 350 segment and moved the agenda on to HB 363.

Provenance: Committee discussion of HB 350 runs from the announcement of the bill’s scheduling through sponsor and proponent testimony and the Q&A (topic introduction: SEG 043; topic finish: SEG 345).