BUSINESS BRIEF: MT Chamber Joins Lawsuit over Ballot Initiative

The Montana Chamber of Commerce, Montana Mining Association and others have filed an original petition asking the Supreme Court to block I-194 from the ballot .I-194 would ban businesses and nonprofits from spending money or providing “anything of value” to influence the outcome of ballot measure campaigns or other political races. The measure goes far beyond limiting “dark money.” As written, it would apply to all LLCs and similar entities, including family-owned businesses, farms, churches, and nonprofits, banning them from speaking out about candidates and ballot issues. The Chamber is also concerned about the vague language around “anything of value,” which could unintentionally limit everyday activities. Ultimately, the lawsuit seeks to prevent broad restrictions that could impact how Montana businesses and organizations engage on public issues. See the link below for more information, as well as recordings of recent MT Chamber events and webinars.