Montana FOI groups join forces to boost services for those seeking open government

By ADDIE SLANGER

Montana’s constitutional right to know is one of the strongest transparency guarantees in the country. But like any right, it only matters if people can actually use it. Access prevented by prohibitive fees or delayed by bureaucracy is access denied all the same.

That reality is why collaboration matters in the transparency space. As such, we’re excited to share an important update: the Montana Transparency Project is joining the Montana Freedom of Information Hotline as a member organization, and the Hotline is becoming the Montana Freedom of Information Coalition.

For decades, the Montana Freedom of Information Hotline has been a cornerstone of open government in our state. Through the hotline, Montanans have been able to get free legal guidance on how to request public records and challenge improper denials. It has helped journalists and citizens alike navigate a process that can otherwise feel opaque and intimidating.

The Montana Transparency Project was founded with the complementary goal: to make the right to know more accessible by helping people prepare requests, track responses, follow up when agencies go silent and understand what the law actually requires. We focus on lowering the practical barriers that too often stand between Montanans and the information that belongs to them.

By formally joining forces, we’re building a more coordinated and durable transparency ecosystem. The Montana Freedom of Information Coalition will support this shared commitment.

Transparency work can be isolating. A single denied request can feel like a dead end, especially for someone unfamiliar with the law or wary of pushing back against government officials. When organizations work in silos, those dead ends can multiply. When we work together, they shrink.

This partnership recognizes that protecting the right to know is not a single-organization job. It requires legal expertise, practical assistance, public education and persistence. It requires institutions that can support one another and adapt as challenges to transparency evolve.

Montana’s Constitution contains a strong promise that Montanans will not be deprived of the right to examine public documents or observe government deliberations. The Montana Freedom of Information Coalition is a coordinated effort to protect this promise. We’re proud to be part of it, and optimistic about what stronger collaboration can mean for open government in Montana.

Addie Slanger is vice president of Montana Transparency Project.