April 9, 2025
To: Montana Senate Judiciary Committee
From: Matthew C. Brower, Executive Director of the Montana Catholic Conference
Re: Testimony in support of HB 275
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Matt Brower. I serve as the Executive
Director of the Montana Catholic Conference, and I am providing this testimony on behalf of the
Roman Catholic bishops of Montana.
While issues related to immigration are sometimes divisive and often challenging to address,
House Bill 275 provides a reasonable and common-sense policy approach to deal with a very
real obstacle faced by some of our Montana residents who are immigrants.
There is a portion of our immigrant population in Montana who, while lawfully present, are at
the same time unable to obtain a driver’s license. This means that in addition to being unable to
obtain auto insurance, they face significant challenges getting to work, attending school and
participating in church services. By providing the opportunity to obtain a driving privilege card,
we can help reduce the unnecessary barriers they face securing something as basic as daily
transportation.
HB 275 is ultimately a bill that provides a reasonable solution to some practical problems. It
promotes safety on our roads and can help certain lawfully present immigrants properly identify
themselves to law enforcement should that need arise. More importantly, it allows them to more
easily participate in society in fundamental and essential ways that are beneficial to them, their
families and all of society.
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, on behalf of the Montana Catholic Conference, I
urge a “do concur.”
Thank you.