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Bill

LC 3513

Generally revise data privacy laws - Agricultural data

2025 Regular Session

Montana bill revising agricultural data privacy rules to establish protections governing collection and use of farm-related information by companies and data holders.

(LC) Draft Died in Process
#privacy #revenue #state #agriculture #informationtechnology
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Bill Summary · LC 3513

Legislative bill overview

LC 3513 is a Montana bill that would generally revise the state's data privacy laws as they apply to agricultural data. The bill appears designed to establish or modify rules governing how agricultural information—potentially including farm production data, soil information, livestock records, and other farming-related data—is collected, used, and protected.

Why is this important

Agricultural data has become increasingly valuable as farmers and agribusinesses adopt precision farming technologies. Clear privacy rules protect farmers from unauthorized data sharing while balancing the need for data utility in modern agriculture. Montana's farming economy makes these protections particularly relevant to the state's rural communities and agricultural stakeholders.

Potential points of contention

  • Farmer data ownership rights: Disputes over who owns agricultural data (farmers, equipment manufacturers, data brokers) and what usage rights they retain
  • Corporate access and consolidation: Tension between allowing agricultural companies to aggregate farm data for legitimate purposes versus preventing excessive data concentration that could disadvantage smaller farms
  • Regulatory scope and burden: Questions about how stringent privacy requirements affect innovation in agricultural technology and whether compliance costs disproportionately impact rural operations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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