Montana Highlights

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and in Montana. To address this enormous toll, the American Lung Association calls for the following actions to be taken by Montana's elected officials:

The American Lung Association, volunteers and advocates realized one of the most successful legislative sessions in recent years in 2025. Positive additions were secured to Montana's 20-year-old Clean Indoor Air Act and an additional $1 million per year was secured for tobacco prevention efforts. Numerous bad bills were defeated.

Senator Willis Curdy led efforts to expand Montana's Clean Indoor Air Act by sponsoring Senate Bill 390. In this bill, definitions were updated to ensure a wider range of tobacco and cannabis-related products, including electronic cigarettes and vape pens, are subject to the same restrictions as conventional smoking. This legislation, which passed the legislature in April 2025 and was signed into law in May 2025, will promote cleaner air and reduce exposure to harmful substances.

An additional $2 million was secured for tobacco prevention funding in House Bill 2, which provides the budget for the two-year biennium starting July 1, 2025.

The American Lung Association worked to defeat several bills that would have adversely affected public health in Montana:

• Senate Bill 98 proposed lowering the tax rate on cigarettes that are heated rather than burned. This legislation missed the transmittal deadline.

• Senate Bill 150 proposed a specific endorsement for cigar bars to allow smoking cigars in businesses with an all-beverages license. This bill failed the third reading in the House of Representatives. This was the fourth attempt to exempt cigar bars from Montana's Clean Indoor Air Act and the sponsor has indicated he will introduce the legislation again in the next legislative session in 2027.

• House Bill 149 proposed revising alternative nicotine and vapor products laws to be excluded from tobacco product regulations. This proposal failed to pass second reading.

• House Bill 525 proposed establishing a vapor product (e-cigarette) directory based on FDA pre-market tobacco application status, legislation that has been introduced by big tobacco companies in states across the country. The bill was tabled in the House Appropriations Committee.

The Montana Legislature does not convene in 2026. The American Lung Association will continue to engage stakeholders and volunteers to provide education and awareness of the importance of prevention programs and the benefits of tobacco tax increases in reducing the health impacts of tobacco use.