Montana Senate approves keeping bills' legal reviews offline

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana senators on Friday approved a rule change that would make it more difficult for lawmakers and the public to learn when legislative attorneys flag potential legal problems in a bill.

The rule would prevent legal review notes from being posted to the Legislature's website unless the bill sponsor requests it. It passed the Senate on a 29-18 party-line vote and now goes to the House.

Legal reviews accompany bills that legislative attorneys find have potential constitutional problems.

Links to legal review notes have been included on the website since 2013, making them easily accessible to lawmakers and the public.

Republican Sen.