Quick Information | Contacts | Form Letters | Publications

Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, Inc.

(A member of NFOIC)

Journalism School
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
Contact: Ian Marquand, Chairman
Phone (919) 829-8986 or (406) 542-4449
E-mail asiamarquand@msn.com
Montana FOI Resources
Participating members: The Associated Press, Montana Newspaper Association, Montana Broadcasters Association, SPJ Montana Pro Chapter, The University of Montana School of Journalism

QUICK FOI INFORMATION

Open Meetings Law Montana Code 2-3-201 et seq.
Closed: Matters involving individual privacy and litigation between government entities and private parties. Citizens may file suit to overturn decisions made in allegedly illegal meetings. However, in 2006, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that citizens who challenge a decision must prove that it caused them "actual harm" over and above that of an ordinary taxpaper or citizen.

Open Records Law Montana Code 2-6-101 et seq.
The law gives citizens the right to inspect any "public writings" of the state except as prohibited by statute. Recent legislation removed several exemptions to the law, thus opening records, including death certificates.
Exempt: Records may be closed if the right to individual privacy clearly exceeds the public's right to know. However, the Montana Supreme Court has upheld challenges to statutes or executive branch decisions that closed records, ruling that the constitutional public right to know outweighed the individual privacy interest.

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

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CONTACTS

• Office of the Attorney General
• Justice Building
• 215 North Sanders, Third Floor
• Helena, MT 59620-1401
• Phone (406) 444-2026
• Fax (406) 444-3549
• http://doj.mt.gov/
• E-mail contactdoj@mt.gov

• State Bar of Montana
• 7 W. 6th Ave., Ste. 2B
• P.O. Box 577
• Helena, MT 59624
• Phone (406) 442-7660
• Fax (406) 442-7763
• http://www.montanabar.org/
• mailbox@montanabar.org

• Montana Newspaper Association
• 825 Great Northern Blvd.
• Helena, Montana 59601
• Phone (406) 443-2850 (800) 325-8276 (in Montana); Fax (406) 443-2860
• http://www.mtnewspapers.com/

• State Sunshine Chair
• Ian Marquand
• PAX-TV
• 4 Katsota CT
• Missoula, MT 59806
• Phone (406) 542-4449
• ian@kpax.com

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FORM LETTERS

• The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
• 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
• Arlington, Virginia 22209
• Phone (800) 336-4243 or (703) 807-2100
• E-mail rcfp@rcfp.org
• FOI Letter Generator

• Student Press Law Center
• 1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
• Arlington, Virginia 22209
• Phone (703) 807-1904
• E-mail splc@splc.org
• Request Letter Generator

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PUBLICATIONS

Access in Montana Frequently Asked Questions: A Guide for Journalists and Citizens was prepared by the University of Montana School of Journalism, edited by Clem P. Work, 2005, 16 p.
This brochure explains the basic laws pertaining to access to public records, the courts and open meetings in Montana.
Format: Brochure 4 in. by 9 in.
Order from:

• Ian Marquand
• PAX-TV
• 4 Katsota CT
• Missoula, MT 59806
• Phone (406) 542-4449
• ian@kpax.com

Freedom of Information in Montana Format: Video $10.00
Order from:

• Ian Marquand
• PAX-TV
• 4 Katsota CT
• Missoula, MT 59806
• Phone (406) 542-4449
• ian@kpax.com

Open Government Guide from the
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

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