The Montana Public Policy Center is committed to making Montana the freest and most prosperous state in the nation—a place where everyone has a fair opportunity in life, families can afford to thrive, and our education system fully meets the needs of children. Unfortunately, Montana Senate Bill 240 (SB 240) threatens these principles and could undermine the conservative values that Montanans overwhelmingly support.
At first glance, SB 240 appears to address the growing issue of debanking, but in reality, it could force financial institutions to do business with radical environmental groups like Earthjustice and the Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC). These organizations have long worked against Montana’s energy industry, agriculture, and natural resource development, pushing extreme policies that destroy jobs and hurt rural communities. Montana must not enact a law that inadvertently strengthens the very groups seeking to undermine our economy.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen has led the fight against financial discrimination, standing up to banks that unfairly target gun manufacturers, energy producers, and other industries vital to our state. SB 240 could undo these efforts by forcing financial institutions to serve organizations that actively oppose Montana’s prosperity.
Montana lawmakers should reject SB 240 and ensure our financial system is not weaponized to support radical environmental activism.
