Montana Limits Capitol Rallies to Weekdays, Blocking Planned No Kings Protest

A rule change posted to Montana.gov without public announcement has barred weekend permits for rallies on the Capitol Complex grounds in Helena, directly threatening a "No Kings" protest scheduled for Saturday, March 28.

The updated permitting guidelines, approved by the General Services Division within the Department of Administration, state that public events requiring a permit "may only occur on weekdays and between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., excluding holidays." The revisions apply to "all state-owned or leased spaces or grounds at the Capitol Complex." Previously, the Montana.gov site told organizers that permits were available "on most weekends and most holidays."

State officials say the revision, instituted last month, was intended to save money. Organizers of Helena's "No Kings" rally counter that it violates their First Amendment rights, arguing the ban on weekend permits blocks protests whenever they require state resources, setup of structures or materials, or cleanup.

Under the new guidelines, a permit is required for any public event that uses "state resources, requires setup of any structures, materials, displays, or requires clean-up." The guidelines define a public event as "any event that is open to the public and to which the public will have full access." The change was posted quietly to Montana.gov and had not been previously reported before the Associated Press published its account on March 12.

The timing matters given the Capitol's history as Helena's central protest venue. A "No Kings" rally at the Montana Tribal Flag Plaza on June 14, 2025 drew roughly 1,000 people. By October, the movement had grown considerably: more than 2,500 people filled the front lawn of the Montana State Capitol on October 18, 2025, for a second rally that year. The March 28 event is part of the next nationwide "No Kings" mobilization.

Whether organizers will seek a permit for a weekday alternative, pursue a legal challenge, or attempt to hold the March 28 event off Capitol grounds remains unclear. No permit denials have been publicly documented, and no litigation has been filed as of this reporting. The General Services Division has not named the official who approved the revisions or provided cost-savings figures to support the rationale.