Bill > HB609

This bill establishes a new criminal offense called "abortion trafficking" in Montana, which makes it illegal for a person to purposely or knowingly transport an unborn child within or outside the state with the intent to obtain an abortion that is illegal in Montana. Under the new law, a person convicted of abortion trafficking could face a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment in state prison for up to 5 years, or both. The bill notably includes an exception to previous abortion-related penalty provisions, specifying that the mother of an unborn child can be penalized for this new offense. The legal terms "purposely" and "knowingly" are defined according to existing state criminal code (45-2-101), which typically means the person intended their actions or was aware of the likely consequences of their actions. The bill becomes effective immediately upon passage and will apply to acts committed on or after its effective date, and it is intended to be integrated into Montana's existing Title 50, chapter 20 concerning abortion regulations.

Justice

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3410