Montana law

Municipal Laws in Montana.

Montana local government operates under the 1972 Constitution and Title 7 of the Montana Code. Montana recognizes self-governing local government powers under constitutional provisions (Mont. Const. art. XI) — local governments may adopt charter forms of government. Montana counties operate under constitutional charter or general-law classifications. The Montana Open Meetings Law (Mont. Code Ann. § 2-3-201 et seq.) and Montana Right to Know (Mont. Const. art. II, § 9) govern transparency. Sovereign immunity is broadly waived (Mont. Const. art. II, § 18) — one of the strongest state-liability frameworks in the U.S.

Last verified: 2026-04-17

State law

Key Montana Statutes

Local Government FormsMont. Const. art. XI; Mont. Code Ann. Title 7, Chapters 1-3

Local governments may adopt a charter form with self-government powers or operate under general statutory powers. Every 10 years, voters review local government forms.

Open Meetings LawMont. Code Ann. § 2-3-201 et seq.

Requires public meetings to be open with advance notice. Closed sessions limited to specific enumerated purposes. Right to Know (art. II, § 9) provides constitutional foundation.

Constitutional Right to KnowMont. Const. art. II, § 9

No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies, except in cases where the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.

Sovereign Immunity WaiverMont. Const. art. II, § 18

Montana's constitution waives sovereign immunity — one of the strongest waivers nationally. Governmental entities may be sued for negligence subject to notice and limitation provisions.

State law

Official Sources

Montana State Legislature Montana League of Cities and Towns

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Montana.

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Municipal Laws in Montana.

Key Montana Statutes

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

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