In May 2025, Montana enacted Senate Bill 163 (SB 163),
amending that state's Genetic Information Privacy Act (MGIPA)
to include protections for neurotechnology data—namely, data
collected from the activity of the central or peripheral nervous
system.
This amendment reflects a growing nationwide recognition of the
sensitivity of neural data and positions Montana, alongside
California and Colorado, at the forefront of its regulation. For
companies that operate in this evolving space, the law introduces
new compliance obligations, particularly around consent, notice,
and research uses. The law will become effective on October 1,
2025.
SB 163 Overview
The MGIPA applies to entities that offer consumer genetic
testing products or services directly to a consumer or collect,
use, or analyze genetic data. The law protects genetic data, and SB
163 broadens the scope to include "neurotechnology data"
in many of its existing provisions, such as requiring entities
