Human Rights Bureau
The Montana Human Rights Bureau is charged with enforcing certain state and federal laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination. When a person files a complaint with the Department of Labor & Industry's Human Rights Bureau, the Bureau will informally investigate. The Bureau is committed to providing quality education and training opportunities to employers, employees, housing providers, tenants, and all Montana residents.
Please note the Bureau can only investigate complaints of discrimination in certain protected areas when a person asserts that an adverse action happened because he or she is a member of a protected class.
If you think you have been discriminated against, you are free to draft and file your own complaint, but we recommend that you contact us for an intake appointment. It is important to know that a person only has 180 days from when an adverse act happened (or when it was discovered) to have a written complaint filed with the Bureau. This time may be extended, but only in limited circumstances.
Have questions? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. Looking for training? Visit our Web-Based Training page or our YouTube channel, Montana Human Rights Bureau.
Discrimination Complaints
The Bureau investigates complaints of discrimination filed in the following protected areas:
- Employment
- Housing
- Education
- Public Accommodations
- Credit / Finance / Insurance (sex and marital status only)
- State and local governmental agency (or municipality)
Protected Classes:
- Age
- Marital Status
- Physical or Mental Disability
- Race / National Origin
- Color
- Religion / Creed
- Sex (including pregnancy, maternity, sexual harassment, sexual orientation)
- Familial Status (housing only)
- Political ideas (only in the provisions or governmental services or governmental employment)
- Retaliation (when directly related to a protected class or protected activity)
- Vaccination Status (employment, government services, public accommodation)
- For more information and frequently asked questions regarding House Bill 702 and vaccination status, please click here. If you are interested in drafting and filing your own complaint based on vaccine status, please click here for more information.
Contact Information
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Phone
406-444-2884
Toll Free: 1-800-542-0807
Telephone Relay Service: 711
Fax
(406) 443-3234
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Mailing Address
Human Rights Bureau
PO Box 1728
Helena MT, 59624-1728
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Vaccination Law
If you are interested in learning more about Montana's vaccination law or filing a complaint based on vaccination status with the Human Rights Bureau, please take a moment to visit the links below.
