"I wish we had a good bill here, but this is not it," said Rep. Roger Koopman, R-Bozeman, just before the body voted, 86-14, against the bill.
Opponents said language in the bill, which would have applied to contractors and subcontractors who "knowingly" employ an unauthorized alien, was too vague and could hurt law-abiding businesses.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim Shockley, R-Victor, has a varied history. It passed the Democratic-controlled Senate, 33-17, with bipartisan support, but was then tabled by a House committee only to be later revived and sent to the floor on a 14-3 vote.
Its demise leaves just one bill dealing with illegal immigration still alive this session. Also sponsored by Shockley, the bill would deny state occupational licenses and license renewal to illegal immigrants.
The other bill aimed at punishing businesses that employ unlawful immigrants was tabled by a Senate committee last month after clearing the House 94-5. The bill by Rep. Mike Jopek, D-Whitefish, would have fined businesses $300 for each illegal hiring.
Other immigration bills that failed this session include one that would have made it a felony for an illegal immigrant to register to vote and another to ban employers from making deductions on state tax returns for wages paid to illegal workers.
The bill is Senate Bill 346.
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