Montana passed Senate Bill 67 in 2025 allowing autonomous vehicles (AVs) on public roads, giving rulemaking authority to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Justice to regulate their safe operation. The law aims to promote AV technology while addressing Montana’s diverse roadways, weather, and wildlife encounters by allowing DOT to limit or exempt AV operation under certain conditions.
Autonomous Vehicle Regulations
- Senate Bill 67 explicitly authorizes commercial autonomous vehicles without a driver physically present if they meet safety criteria and are registered with Montana DOT.
- DOT can impose restrictions on AVs in hazardous conditions but also can exempt vehicles that demonstrate safe performance.
- The Department of Justice consults with stakeholders including law enforcement and transportation committees before proposing related rules.
Regulatory Challenges
- Critics argue Montana’s AV framework lacks alignment with national technical driving automation standards and merges different levels of automation inappropriately, impacting risk assessments.
- The bill’s dual authority between DOT and Justice may cause regulatory delays.
- Ambiguities remain around definitions of “dangerous road conditions” and demonstration of safe AV operation.
Drone Regulations
Montana currently lacks comprehensive state-specific drone regulations; drone use primarily follows federal FAA rules, though local governments may enact restrictions. As of 2025, no major legislative moves have been made specifically regulating commercial or recreational drone operations beyond FAA compliance.
Montana is actively developing an AV regulatory framework focusing on enabling technology growth balanced with safety, but drone regulations remain consistent with federal governance without significant state augmentation.
SOURCES
[1](https://www.route-fifty.com/infrastructure/2025/11/montana-lawmakers-take-closer-look-autonomous-vehicles/409775/)
[2](https://reason.org/backgrounder/montanas-proposed-regulatory-framework-for-autonomous-vehicles-needs-reform/)
[3](https://archive.legmt.gov/content/Committees/Interim/2021-2022/Transportation/20_Sept_22/AVs_V5.pdf)
[4](https://archive.legmt.gov/content/Sessions/69th/Contractor_index/CH0355.pdf)
[5](https://legiscan.com/MT/bill/SB67/2025)
