State desk
Ranks 28th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where Montana stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 7 Montana outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · Montana in red. Free to cite with attribution.
No permit required to carry a concealed handgun since 2021; optional permits remain available for reciprocity.
Montana is 1 of 29 states with this rule
15 · Shall-Issue Permit6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
Montana taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 5.65 percent across 2 brackets, ranking 18 of 41 among the states that tax income.
Montana is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
Montana charges 33.75 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 18 of 50, which is near the middle nationally. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 52.15 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 30.50 cents.
Montana is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest17 · Among the Lowest
Retains the death penalty.
Montana is 1 of 23 states with this rule
4 · Retains it, executions paused23 · Abolished
Not a right-to-work state; union-security agreements are permitted.
Montana is 1 of 24 states with this rule
26 · Right-to-Work
State minimum wage is $10.85, above the federal $7.25 floor.
Montana is 1 of 30 states with this rule
12 · Matches the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
Voters are asked for photo ID; those without one may present alternative documents or vote via other verification.
Montana is 1 of 14 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
Tax-credit scholarship plus a newer special-needs ESA; both are targeted, not universal.
Montana is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal17 · No Private-Choice Program
NCSL lists Montana among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages.
Montana is 1 of 31 states with this rule
7 · Recognized by Court Decision12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail without giving a reason.
Montana is 1 of 29 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail13 · Excuse Required
Montana's unemployment rate was 3.1% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, down 0.1 percentage points from 3.2% in August. It ranks 8th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.). A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 3.5%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
Montana is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court