Montana Freedom of Information Hotline Inc.
Your Source for Public Access Information
The Montana Freedom of Information Hotline is dedicated to keeping the operations of government in Montana open to public observation and participation. It seeks to accomplish that by providing free legal advice and assistance to journalists and members of the public confronted with improperly closed government doors or sealed documents.
The FOI Hotline also seeks to educate journalists, members of the public and government officials about Montana’s Constitution and laws, which generally guarantee that all levels of government authorized by the state do their work openly and accessibly to members of the public.
Available Resources
Through the Ask a Question link at the top of this page or by calling the Hotline at 406-442-8670, you can pose your question to Helena attorney Peter Michael Meloy, a Montana freedom of information expert, who will provide you with a prompt answer.
FOI Request
Find out more about a Freedom of Information (FOI) request letter and see examples.
Learn MoreOpen Government Webinars
Understand freedom of information and open government with our free webinars.
Learn MoreReporter's Wallet Card
Helpful tips for attending meetings, court sessions and accessing public documents.
Learn MoreAccess in Montana
The Montana Journalism Review and the Montana Freedom of Information Hotline offer this updated guide (revised March 2016) to educate journalists and citizens about public access to local, state and federal government. The purpose of the FAQ is to serve as a guide and should in no way substitute for legal guidance from the FOI Hotline.
Montana’s Constitution says, “No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberation of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure.”
How You Can Help
The Montana FOI Hotline Inc. is a private, nonprofit Montana corporation that is funded through donations from media, educational organizations and citizens who use its services and through grants from organizations, including the National Freedom of Information Coalition, First Amendment Funding Inc. and the Lee Newspapers Endowment Fund of the Montana Community Foundation.
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