By Amanda Eggert, Montana Free Press
Rep. Ed Stafman drafted the bill in response to litigation surrounding public records requests.
Gov. Greg Gianforte gave his State of the State address to the Senate and House of Representatives at the Montana State Capitol in Helena on Jan. 13, 2025. Credit: John Stember / MTFP
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has vetoed a bill to protect public access to records associated with executive branch deliberations and communications.
In a May 16 letter striking down House Bill 271, which would have limited the governor’s ability to raise an “executive privilege” argument in a records request denial, Gianforte referenced the Montana Constitution and a recent Montana Supreme Court ruling that narrowed Montanans’ right to examine public documents and observe the deliberations of public bodies.
