MT SB352

Extends legislative speech and debate immunity to legislative staff, protecting them from being questioned in judicial proceedings or compelled to testify about privileged legislative information

Prohibits legislative staff from disclosing privileged legislative information, which must be treated as confidential; public introduction or discussion of a bill by a legislator does not waive this privilege

Defines "legislative staff" to include employees and contractors of consolidated legislative branch entities, personal staff of legislative leadership, and attorneys or consultants hired by legislative leadership with state funding

Excludes the legislative audit division and its employees from the definition of legislative staff

Takes effect immediately upon passage and approval, codifying the U.S. Supreme Court's Gravel v. United States (1972) holding that legislative aides must be treated as legislators' "alter egos" for purposes of speech and debate clause protections