Mont. Code Ann. » TITLE 13. ELECTIONS · CHAPTER 35. ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN PRACTICES AND CRIMINAL PROVISIONS · Part 2. Specific Provisions
Montana Code Annotated

Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-227 (2026)

Prohibited Contributions From Corporations And Unions

✓ current as of May 2026
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  1. MCA Contents
  2. TITLE 13
  3. CHAPTER 35
  4. Part 2
  5. 13-35-227 Prohibited contributions from corporations and unions

TITLE 13. ELECTIONS

CHAPTER 35. ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN PRACTICES AND CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

Part 2. Specific Provisions

Prohibited Contributions From Corporations And Unions

13-35-227. Prohibited contributions from corporations and unions. (1) A corporation or union may not make a contribution to a candidate directly or through an intermediary.

(2) A candidate may not accept or receive a corporate or union contribution described in subsection (1).

(3) A political committee that is not a corporation or union may establish a fund to be used for making political contributions to candidates if the fund consists only of funds solicited from noncorporate and nonunion sources.

(4) A corporation or union may establish a separate, segregated fund to be used for making political contributions to candidates if the fund consists only of voluntary contributions solicited from an individual who is a shareholder, employee, or member of the corporation or union.

(5) A person who violates this section is subject to the civil penalty provisions of 13-37-128.

History: En. Sec. 25, Init. Act, Nov. 1912; re-en. Sec. 10790, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 10790, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 94-1444, R.C.M. 1947; redes. 23-4744 by Sec. 29, Ch. 513, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 296, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 23-4744; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 404, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, I.M. No. 125, Nov. 5, 1996; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 294, L. 1997 (voided by I.R. No. 114, Nov. 3, 1998); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 59, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 259, L. 2015.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1998–2024 · leading case: W. Tradition P'ship, Inc. v. Attorney Gen., 2011 MT 328 (Mont. 2011).
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W. Tradition P'ship, Inc. v. Attorney Gen., 2011 MT 328 (Mont. 2011). · cites it 127× “(2) A person, candidate or political committee may not accept or receive a corporate contribution described in subsection (1).”
W. Tradition P'ship, Inc. v. Attorney Gen., 2011 MT 328 (Mont. 2012). · cites it 28× “Factor 1 ¶33 First, as to the strength or societal importance of the public policy vindicated by the litigation, it is hardly open to argument that ATP’s lawsuit secured against the proscriptions of Montana’s Corrupt Practices Act (in particular, § 13-35-227, MCA) the expansive…”
Lair v. Murry, 871 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (D. Mont. 2012). · cites it 24× “th knowledge that the assertion is false or with a reckless disregard of whether it is false; • Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(1), (5), which limits contributions that individuals and political committees may make to candidates; • Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(3), (5),…”
Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church of East Helena, Inc. v. Unsworth, 556 F.3d 1021 (9th Cir. 2009). · cites it 2× “3d at 1057-58 (striking down Montana's ban on corporate expenditures and contributions in ballot issues under Mont.Code Ann. § 13-35-227). With respect to the remaining interest, we have little trouble concluding that Montana's informational interest is generally "important" in…”
Forward Montana v. State, 2024 MT 75 (Mont. 2024). · cites it 4× “Section 13-35-227(1), MCA. The District Court did not abuse its discretion.”
Montana Right to Life Ass'n v. Eddleman, 999 F. Supp. 1380 (D. Mont. 1998). · cites it 8× “MontCode Ann. § 13-35-227 13-85-227. Prohibited contributions from corporations for candidates or political parties.”
Am. Tradition P'ship, Inc. v. Bullock, 567 U.S. 516 (2012). “” Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-227 (1) (2011). The Montana Supreme Court rejected petitioners’ claim that this statute violates the First Amendment.”
Lair v. Motl, 189 F. Supp. 3d 1024 (D. Mont. 2016). · cites it 2× “th knowledge that the assertion is false or with a reckless disregard of whether it is false; Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(1), (5), which limits contributions that individuals and political committees may make to candidates; Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(3), (5),…”
1A Auto, Inc. v. Dir. of the Off. of Campaign & Political Fin., 105 N.E.3d 1175 (Mass. 2018). · cites it 3× “3(3)(a); Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-227 ; N.C. Gen. Stat.”
Montana Chamber of Com. v. Argenbright, 28 F. Supp. 2d 593 (D. Mont. 1998). · cites it 3× “In 1996, however, Montana voters approved Initiative 125 (“1-125”), which amends Mont.Code Ann. § 13-35-227 and provides as follows: (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4), a corporation may not make a contribution or an expenditure in connection with a .”
Lair v. Murry, 903 F. Supp. 2d 1077 (D. Mont. 2012). · cites it 2× “ign with knowledge that the assertion is false or with a reckless disregard of whether it is false; Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(1), (5), which limits contributions that individuals and political committees may make to candidates; Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(3),…”
Forward Montana v. State, 2024 MT 19 (Mont. 2024). · cites it 4× “Section 13-35-227(1), MCA. The District Court did not abuse its discretion.”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-227(1) — 5 cases
W. Tradition P'ship, Inc. v. Attorney Gen., 2011 MT 328 (Mont. 2011). “(2) A person, candidate or political committee may not accept or receive a corporate contribution described in subsection (1).”
W. Tradition P'ship, Inc. v. Attorney Gen., 2011 MT 328 (Mont. 2012). “Factor 1 ¶33 First, as to the strength or societal importance of the public policy vindicated by the litigation, it is hardly open to argument that ATP’s lawsuit secured against the proscriptions of Montana’s Corrupt Practices Act (in particular, § 13-35-227, MCA) the expansive…”
Forward Montana v. State, 2024 MT 75 (Mont. 2024). “Section 13-35-227(1), MCA. The District Court did not abuse its discretion.”
Forward Montana v. State, 2024 MT 19 (Mont. 2024). “Section 13-35-227(1), MCA. The District Court did not abuse its discretion.”
Lair v. Murry, 871 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (D. Mont. 2012). “th knowledge that the assertion is false or with a reckless disregard of whether it is false; • Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(1), (5), which limits contributions that individuals and political committees may make to candidates; • Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(3), (5),…”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-227(2) — 1 case
Lair v. Murry, 871 F. Supp. 2d 1058 (D. Mont. 2012). “th knowledge that the assertion is false or with a reckless disregard of whether it is false; • Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(1), (5), which limits contributions that individuals and political committees may make to candidates; • Montana Code Annotated § 13-37-216(3), (5),…”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-227(3) — 1 case
W. Tradition P'ship, Inc. v. Attorney Gen., 2011 MT 328 (Mont. 2011). “(2) A person, candidate or political committee may not accept or receive a corporate contribution described in subsection (1).”
— Mont. Code Ann. § 13-35-227(4) — 1 case
Montana Chamber of Com. v. Argenbright, 28 F. Supp. 2d 593 (D. Mont. 1998). “In 1996, however, Montana voters approved Initiative 125 (“1-125”), which amends Mont.Code Ann. § 13-35-227 and provides as follows: (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4), a corporation may not make a contribution or an expenditure in connection with a .”
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