Gianforte signs law cracking down on illegal hiring
Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, sponsor of House Bill 226, speaks with Gov. Greg Gianforte at a bill signing ceremony at Flathead Electric Cooperative on Wednesday, June 18. With Gianforte are businessman Bill Miles, left, Rep. Courtenay Sprunger and Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Sarah Swanson. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
During a stop in Evergreen on Wednesday, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law a bill that expands the state’s authority to police illegal hiring practices.
Under the law, the Montana Department of Labor and Industry can audit employers for documents, such as I-9 forms, that are used to verify an employee’s legal working status. Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, introduced the measure during the 2025 legislative session. The bill passed both houses with bipartisan support.
“If anyone is using illegal labor, it’s not a victimless crime,” said Sprunger following the bill’s signing at Flathead Electric Cooperative on June 18.
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