SB172 provides that in the event of a disaster or state of emergency, discriminatory action by the government is prohibited and it ensures that religious services are an essential service for the welfare of the people of the state.
The Montana State Senate passed SB172 on April 23, 2021 by a vote of 31 to 19. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because no law shall prohibit free exercise of religion and the right to peacefully assemble. These rights are protected by both the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and no situation or event in the United States shall lead to the suspension of those rights.