The Legislature on Wednesday passed a bill that takes special aim at environmental groups and other charitable organizations that have federal 501(c)3 nonprofit status. Lawmakers also cleared a bill that removed a provision amended into it late in the process that would have had the Department of Justice investigate nonprofits that work on environmental issues. On Tuesday, Republicans had altered a provision in Senate Bill 278 that would penalize nonprofit groups that file lawsuits related to government actions, exempting two categories of nonprofit organizations that are more commonly associated with political campaigns and lobbying. Senate Bill 278 states that nonprofits involved in lawsuits over government actions â other than those directly related to their property or contracts â cannot consider those legal expenses tax-exempt. The amendment, brought by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, removes 501(c)4 organizations from that requirement. Those nonprofits are allowed to engage in more lobbying and political campaign work than 501(c)3 organizations, which would still face penalties under SB 278. They also donât have to disclose their donors.