HB271

Montana HB271 revises the Public Records Act to establish a limited executive privilege.

Montana HB271 revises the Public Records Act to establish a limited executive privilege. The bill allows the governor to assert an exemption to withhold specific public information when the governor's individual privacy interest clearly outweighs the merits of public disclosure. The exemption must be narrowly tailored to the specific information in question. The bill also outlines the conditions under which the exemption expires and mandates the award of costs and reasonable attorney fees for prevailing parties in public records litigation. The act is effective upon passage and approval.