Mont. Code Ann. § 22-3-201

The legislature declares that it is the public policy of the state of Montana that noncurrent records of permanent value to the state and to local governments should be preserved and protected; that the operations of state government should be made more efficient, more effective, and more economical through current records management; and that to the end that the people may receive maximum benefit from a knowledge of state and local government affairs, the state and local governments should preserve noncurrent records of permanent value for study and research.