Montana House of Representatives
| Montana House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Party control: | Republican |
| Session start: | January 6, 2025 |
| Session end: | May 9, 2025 |
| Term length: | 2 years |
| Term limits: | 4 terms (8 years) |
| Redistricting: | Commission |
| Salary: | $104.86/legislative day + per diem |
| Members | |
| Total: | 100 |
| Democrats: | 42 |
| Republicans: | 58 |
| Other: | 0 |
| Vacancies: | 0 |
| Leadership | |
| Speaker: | Brandon Ler (R) |
| Maj. Leader: | Steve Fitzpatrick (R) |
| Min. Leader: | Katie Sullivan (D) |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
The Montana House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Montana State Legislature. Alongside the Montana State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Montana state government and works alongside the governor of Montana to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Montana House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
The Montana House of Representatives meets in the state capitol building in Helena, Montana.
Montana enacted new legislative district boundaries after the 2020 census on February 22, 2023, when the Montana Districting & Apportionment Commission (MDAC) submitted its final plan to the secretary of state. The commission had voted 3-2 to approve the final plan on February 11, 2023. The two Democratic-appointed commissioners and the commission's chairperson—that the state supreme court appointed—voted to approve the plan. The two Republican-appointed commissioners voted against it. These districts will take effect for the 2024 elections. Click here for more information about redistricting after the 2020 census.
Montana has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature. |
This page contains the following information on the Montana House of Representatives.
- Which party controls the chamber
- The chamber's current membership
- Partisan control of the chamber over time
- Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
- A district map
- How redistricting works in the state
- Legislation currently under consideration
- Legislative session dates
- Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
- A list of committees
Party control
Current partisan control
The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Montana House of Representatives as of January 2025:
| Party | As of January 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 42 | |
| Republican Party | 58 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Members
Leadership
The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body.[1]
Leadership and members
- House speaker: Brandon Ler (R)
- Majority leader: Steve Fitzpatrick (R)
- Minority leader: Katie Sullivan (D)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[2] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $104.86/legislative day | $171/day |
Swearing in dates
Montana legislators assume office on the first Monday of January following the election. If January 1 is a Monday, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday.[3][4][5]
Membership qualifications
According to Part V, Section 4, of the Montana Constitution, in order to be eligible to serve in the Montana House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[6]
"A candidate for the legislature shall be a resident of the state for at least one year next preceding the general election. For six months next preceding the general election, he shall be a resident of the county if it contains one or more districts or of the district if it contains all or parts of more than one county."
Historical party control
Republicans won control of the Montana House of Representatives in 2010. In 2024, they won a 58-42 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Montana House following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Montana House of Representatives election results: 1992-2024
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 | '24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 47 | 33 | 35 | 41 | 42 | 47 | 50 | 49 | 50 | 32 | 37 | 41 | 41 | 42 | 33 | 32 | 42 |
| Republicans | 53 | 67 | 65 | 59 | 58 | 53 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 68 | 63 | 59 | 59 | 58 | 67 | 68 | 58 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Trifecta history
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Montana was under the following types of trifecta control:
- Democratic trifecta: None
- Republican trifecta: 1995-2004, 2021-2023
- Divided government: 1992-1994, 2005-2020
Montana Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas • Fifteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | S | S | R | R | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Elections
Elections by year
Montana state representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Montana holds elections for its legislature in even years.
2026
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
2024
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was June 4, 2024. The filing deadline was March 11, 2024.
Heading into the 2024 elections, Republicans held a 68-32 majority. After the election, the Republican majority was 58-42.
| Montana House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2024 | After November 6, 2024 | |
| Democratic Party | 32 | 42 | |
| Republican Party | 68 | 58 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
2022
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 14, 2022.
In the 2022 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Montana House of Representatives from 67-33 to 68-32.
| Montana House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 33 | 32 | |
| Republican Party | 67 | 68 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
2020
Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was March 9, 2020.
In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Montana House of Representatives from 58-42 to 67-33.
| Montana House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 42 | 33 | |
| Republican Party | 58 | 67 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
2018
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2018. An open primary took place on June 5, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 12, 2018.[7]
In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Montana House of Representatives was reduced from 59-41 to 58-42.
| Montana House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 6, 2018 | After November 7, 2018 | |
| Democratic Party | 41 | 42 | |
| Republican Party | 59 | 58 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
2016
Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016. All 100 seats in the Montana House of Representatives were up for election in 2016.
Heading into the election, Republicans held a 59-41 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election.
| Montana House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 7, 2016 | After November 8, 2016 | |
| Democratic Party | 41 | 41 | |
| Republican Party | 59 | 59 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
| Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014Elections for the Montana House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 61-39 majority. Republicans lost two seats in the election, giving them a 59-41 majority.
2012Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 12, 2012. All 100 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 68-32 majority. Republicans lost five seats in the election, giving them a 63-37 majority.
The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.
During the 2012 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $1,593,820. The top 10 contributors were:[8]
2010Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2010. All 100 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, the chamber was split between Democrats and Republicans with a 50-50 majority. Republicans gained 18 seats in the election, giving them a 68-32 majority.
During the 2010 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $1,611,045. The top 10 donors were:[9]
2008Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. All 100 seats were up for election. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $1,793,389. The top 10 contributors were:[10]
2006Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. All 100 seats were up for election. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $1,796,765. The top 10 contributors were:[11]
2004Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 4, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. All 100 seats were up for election. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $1,271,652. The top 10 contributors were:[12]
2002Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 4, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. All 100 seats were up for election. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $994,198. The top 10 contributors were:[13]
2000Elections for the office of Montana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. All 100 seats were up for election. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to House candidates was $1,119,382. The top 10 contributors were:[14]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
The Montana legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Montana Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Montana representatives cannot serve more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years in any 16-year period.[15]
The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.[16]
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Montana State Legislature, the board of county commissioners of the county that comprises the legislative district of the vacant seat must select a replacement. The secretary of state must notify the board of county commissioners and the state party that holds the vacant seat no later than seven days after being informed of the vacancy. The county central committee has 45 days after receiving notice from the secretary of state to provide a list of candidates to the board of county commissioners. The board must select a replacement no later than 15 days after receiving the list of candidates. If the legislature is in session, the selection must be made no later than five days after receiving a candidate list.[17] Any person selected to fill a House seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term. Any person selected to fill a Senate seat serves until the next scheduled general election.[18]
See sources: Montana Const. Art. 5, Sec 7 and Montana Code Ann. §5-2-402
District map
- See also: Montana state legislative districts
The state of Montana has 150 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative. The state Senate has 50 districts and the state House has 100 districts.
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Montana
Montana uses a non-politician commission for congressional and state legislative redistricting. This commission comprises five members. The majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the state legislature select one member a piece. These four members then select a fifth to serve as the commission's chair. If the first four commissioners are unable to agree on an appointment, the Montana Supreme Court may select the fifth member.[19]
The Montana Constitution requires that no commissioner be a public official. State statutes require that two of the first four commissioners "must be selected from certain counties (roughly, in the Montana Rockies to the west) and two must be selected from the rest of the state (to the east)."[19]
The state's Districting and Apportionment Commission must complete congressional redistricting within 90 days of receiving federal census data. It must prepare a legislative redistricting plan "by the 10th legislative day of the first regular session after the federal census results are available. The Legislature then has 30 days to make recommendations to the commission. Within 30 days of receiving the Legislature's recommendations, the commission must file the redistricting plan with the Secretary of State, and it becomes law. Although the commission may modify the plan to accommodate the Legislature's recommendations, it is not required to do so."[20]
The state constitution requires that districts be both contiguous and compact.[19]
| “ | The ... commission has stated that it may gauge compactness by looking to a district's general appearance, and the degree to which it fosters "functional compactness" through "travel and transportation, communication, and geography." The commission has similarly determined that it will, in drawing legislative districts, consider the boundary lines of political subdivisions (counties, cities, towns, school districts, Indian reservations, neighborhood commissions, and others); follow geographic boundaries; and consider keeping intact communities of interest (based on "Indian reservations, urban[, suburban, or rural] interests, . . . neighborhoods, trade areas, geographic location, communication and transportation networks, media markets, social, cultural and economic interests, or occupations and lifestyles").[21] | ” |
| —All About Redistricting | ||
2020
Montana enacted new legislative district boundaries after the 2020 census on February 22, 2023, when the Montana Districting & Apportionment Commission (MDAC) submitted its final plan to the secretary of state. The commission had voted 3-2 to approve the final plan on February 11, 2023. The two Democratic-appointed commissioners and the commission's chairperson—that the state supreme court appointed—voted to approve the plan. The two Republican-appointed commissioners voted against it. These districts will take effect for the 2024 elections.
The MDAC voted 3-2 to submit its final legislative district boundary proposal to the legislature on December 21, 2022. The commission's nonpartisan chairperson, Maylinn Smith, and two Democratic-appointed commissioners voted to approve the map, and the two Republican-appointed commissioners voted against it.[22] The legislature provided recommendations on the plan via a joint House-Senate resolution on February 2, 2023. The MDAC incorporated some, but not all, of the legislature's proposed amendments into the final plan.
Montana was the last state to enact legislative redistricting plans after the 2020 census. The state constitution requires that the redistricting commission submit legislative maps to the legislature so they can provide non-binding recommendations before they are enacted. Montana's legislature only meets in odd-numbered years and adjourned in April 2021, before U.S. Census data was delivered to the states on August 12, 2021.[23]
Shaylee Ragar of Montana Public Radio wrote that "According to data compiled by Democrats on the commission, the map could give Republicans a 20-seat advantage in the House and an 8-seat advantage in the Senate. It projects Democrats picking up a few seats currently held by Republicans."[24] Arren Kimbel-Sannit wrote in the Montana Free Press that, "In sum, the new maps could cost Republicans several seats while still leaving them a sizable majority that at least suggests the GOP’s dominance in recent elections."[25]
District map after 2020 redistricting
This map took effect for Montana’s 2024 legislative elections.
2010
Following the 2010 United States Census, Montana did not add to its single congressional district, making congressional redistricting unnecessary. On August 17, 2012, the independent redistricting commission released a tentative state legislative district proposal. The commission submitted its final recommendations to the state legislature on January 8, 2013. After considering responses from the legislature, the commission produced its final redistricting plan on February 12, 2013.[19] The maps would not go into effect until the 2014 elections. The 2012 election were run using the maps drawn after the 2000 Census. [26]
Sessions
Legislation
The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Montana House of Representatives has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.
Dates of legislative sessions in Montana by year
2025
In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2025, and adjourn on May 9, 2025.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024
In 2024, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2023In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 2, 2023, and adjourn on May 2, 2023. 2022
In 2022, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2021, and adjourn on April 29, 2021. 2020
In 2020, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 7, 2019, through April 25, 2019. 2018
In 2018, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2017, through April 28, 2017. A special session to address the projected $227 million budget shortfall began on November 14. It ended on November 16. 2016
In 2016, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 5 through April 28. Major issues in 2015Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included Medicaid expansion, funding for preschool programs, infrastructure, charter schools, and the Flathead Water Rights Compact.[27] Campaign finance regulation
On April 22, 2015, Gov. Steve Bullock (D) signed new campaign finance regulations requiring previously-anonymous groups to report campaign contributions in state elections. SB 289 requires disclosure from any group spending money on "electioneering communications" or contributing to candidates starting with the statewide election in 2016. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Duane Ankney (R), passed the state House 51-48 and went to the governor's desk after a 30-20 vote in the state Senate. Eight Republican senators and 10 Republican members of the state House joined their Democratic colleagues to approve SB 289.[28][29] Ankney and state Sen. Frank Garner (R) joined Bullock during the bill signing on April 22. Garner was a vocal advocate for campaign finance regulation due to a run-in in early 2015 with Americans for Prosperity-Montana (AFP). The group sent postcards mobilizing residents of Garner's district to attend a town meeting following the legislator's refusal to sign an AFP pledge opposing Medicaid expansion. Ankney and Garner rallied Republican votes in the state Senate by highlighting the benefits of campaigning on regulating money from anonymous groups.[29] Bullock made the following statement about SB 289 during the signing ceremony:
The Montana Republican Party criticized Bullock for hypocrisy due to his role on the National Governors Association. A statement released by the party concluded, "Bullock only believes in transparency as long as he doesn’t have to tell Montanans where all his undisclosed, unlimited corporate cash is coming from."[29] 2014
In 2014, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 7 to April 27. Major issues in 2013Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included economic development, increased natural resource development, and reforms to how the state funds education.[30] 2012
In 2012, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2011In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 3 through April 28.[31] 2010In 2010, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2009In 2009, the legislature was in session from January 5 through April 25. | ||||||
About legislative sessions in Montana
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[32] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.
Article V of the Montana Constitution establishes when the Montana State Legislature, of which the House is a part, is to be in session. Section 6 of Article V states that the Legislature is to meet in every odd-numbered year in a regular session of at most ninety legislative days. However, Section 6 allows any Legislature to increase the limit on the length of any subsequent session. Section 6 also allows for the Legislature to meet in special session when convened by the Governor of Montana or when a special session is requested by a majority of the Legislature's members.
Legislative roles and procedures
Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, term limits, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Montana are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 67 of the 100 members in the Montana House of Representatives and 34 of the 50 members in the Montana State Senate. Montana is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| According to Article VI, Section 10 of the Montana Constitution, if the governor vetoes a bill that had the support of at least two-thirds of members after adjournment, the secretary of state sends a notification by mail to legislators with instructions on how to override the veto. Members have 30 days to respond. |
Authority: Article VI, Section 10 of the Montana Constitution.
| "(2) The governor may return any bill to the legislature with his recommendation for amendment. If the legislature passes the bill in accordance with the governor's recommendation, it shall again return the bill to the governor for his reconsideration. The governor shall not return a bill for amendment a second time. (3) If after receipt of a veto message, two-thirds of the members of each house present approve the bill, it shall become law." |
Role in state budget
- See also: Montana state budget and finances
Montana on 
|
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[33]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in April and August.
- Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in June and September.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature by November 15. Governors-elect submit budget proposals by January 7.
- The legislature typically adopts a budget in April. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The biennium begins July 1.
Montana is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[33][34]
The governor is statutorily required to submit a balanced budget proposal. The legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.[33]
Committees
Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.
- Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
- Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
- Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.
Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Montana House of Representatives has 16 standing committees:
- Agriculture Committee
- Appropriations Committee
- Business and Labor Committee
- Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee
- Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee
- House Education Committee
- House Ethics Committee
- House Judiciary Committee
- House Legislative Administration Committee
- House Local Government Committee
- House Natural Resources Committee
- House Rules Committee
- House State Administration Committee
- House Taxation Committee
- Human Services Committee
- Transportation Committee
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Montana Constitution can be amended:
| Montana Constitution |
|---|
|
| Preamble |
| Articles |
| I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV • Schedule |
The Montana Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Montana requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
Initiative
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
In Montana, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Montana also has a distribution requirement that requires proponents to collect signatures equal to 10% of the qualified electors in each of two-fifths (40) of the state's 100 legislative districts. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
Legislature
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required of all members of the legislature during one legislative session for the Montana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Since Montana has 150 legislators (100 Representatives and 50 Senators), at least 100 members must vote in favor of a constitutional amendment for it to pass. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Convention
According to Section 3, Article XIV of the Montana Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, if it has not otherwise appeared on the ballot in the last 20 years. Montana is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:
| State | Interval | Last question on the ballot | Next question on the ballot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 20 years | 2010 | 2030 |
The Montana State Legislature is also authorized to submit a constitutional convention question to voters via a two-thirds (66.67%) vote of both chambers. Citizens may also initiate a constitutional convention question. The number of signatures required to place the question on the ballot is equal to 10% of the qualified electors of the state, including at least 10 percent of the qualified electors in each of two-fifths of the legislative districts. Any amendments proposed by a convention must be ratified by the voters.
2026 measures:
- See also: 2026 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2026.
No measures to list
2025 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2025 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2025.
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
See also
| Elections | Montana State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "House of Representatives, 2013," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Confirmed via email with the Montana State Legislature on 8/6/2011
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated 2023 5-2-103," accessed January 24, 2024
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated 2021 5-2-102," accessed February 2, 2023
- ↑ Montana State Constitution, "Article 5, Section 4," accessed February 10, 2023
- ↑ Montana Secretary of State, "2018 Election Calendar," accessed June 22, 2017
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Montana 2012 - Candidates," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Montana 2010 - Candidates," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Montana 2008 - Candidates," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Montana 2006 - Candidates," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Montana 2004 - Candidates," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Montana 2002 - Candidates," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Montana 2000 - Candidates," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ Montana State Constitution, "Article 4, Section 8," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Term Limits, "State Legislative Term Limits," accessed February 4, 2021
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-402 (3) (a)-(c))
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "Montana Code Annotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statute 5-2-405 (1)-(2))
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 All About Redistricting, "Montana," accessed April 29, 2015
- ↑ Montana State Legislature, "Districting and Apportionment Commission," accessed October 6, 2021
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Daily Montanan, "Redistricting Commission votes to send map to the legislature for recommendations," December 21, 2022
- ↑ Montana State Legislature, "Constitution of Montana -- Article V -- THE LEGISLATURE," accessed June 2, 2022
- ↑ Montana Public Radio, "Redistricting commission adopts final legislative maps," February 13, 2023
- ↑ Montana Free Press, "Explaining the why and the where of Montana’s new legislative districts," February 13, 2023
- ↑ The Missoulian, "Legislative redistricting panel gets look at new maps," February 17, 2012
- ↑ Associated Press, "Montana Legislature: Top issues for 2015 session," January 22, 2015
- ↑ LegiScan, "MT SB289," accessed May 1, 2015
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 The Montana Standard, "Bullock signs campaign finance bill into law, forces 'dark money' groups to report," April 22, 2015
- ↑ Billings Gazette, " Legislature again prepare to debate divisive issues," January 6, 2013
- ↑ Montana Legislature, "2011 Regular Session," accessed June 2, 2014
- ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
| |||||||||||
 |
State of Montana Helena (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
