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Greg Gianforte (R)
Last updated 5:26 PM Jun 22, 2021

HB 2: General Appropriations Act

Became Law

Bill text
Fiscal note
None on file
Legal note
None on file
Official bill page
Deadline for passing first chamber (the House for House bills and the Senate for Senate bills): 4/8/21. Deadline for first chamber return if amended in second: 4/29/21.

This is the primary state budget bill, incorporating most of the spending the Legislature will authorize for state agencies. As such, it follows a slightly different process than other bills, with joint appropriations subcommittees including members from the House and Senate holding numerous hearings about its contents early in the legislative session.

While the budget is high-profile legislation that sometimes ends up caught in procedural turmoil, House Bill 2 is generally voted on by the full House Appropriations Committee before being forwarded for debate on the House Floor. Once passed by the House, a similar process is generally repeated in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee and on the Senate floor.

News coverage

MTFP stories about the bill
The 2021 Legislature’s last-minute laws
4/30/21
This week in Helena, April 12-16
4/16/21
This week In Helena, April 5-9
4/9/21
This week in Helena, March 22-26
3/26/21
Budget bill advances on party lines
3/22/21
The Session podcast
3/22/21
This week in Helena, March 15-19
3/19/21
The Session podcast
3/15/21
The Session podcast
3/8/21
Montana Free Press
Local journalists covering Montana for you.

Legislative actions

How bills move through the Legislature
Showing major bill actions only.
DateActionLocation
12/14/20
Introduced
House Floor
12/24/20
Referred to Committee
House Appropriations
1/4/21
First Reading
House Appropriations
1/7/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/7/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/7/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/7/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/8/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/8/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/8/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/8/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/8/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/11/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/11/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/11/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/11/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/12/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/12/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/12/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/12/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/12/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/12/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/13/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/13/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/13/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/13/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/13/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/13/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/14/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/15/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/15/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/15/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/18/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/18/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/18/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/18/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/19/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/19/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/19/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/19/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/19/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/20/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/20/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/20/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/20/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/20/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/20/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/21/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/21/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/21/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/21/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/21/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/21/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/22/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/22/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/22/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/25/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/25/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/25/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/25/21
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/25/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/25/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/26/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/26/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/26/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/26/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/26/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/27/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/27/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/28/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/28/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/28/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
1/28/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
1/29/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
1/29/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
1/29/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
1/29/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
1/29/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
2/1/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
2/1/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
2/1/21
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
2/1/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/1/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2/2/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
2/2/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/2/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
2/2/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2/2/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
2/3/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
2/3/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
2/3/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/3/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
2/3/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
2/4/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
2/4/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/4/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
2/4/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2/4/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
2/5/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2/5/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning
2/8/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
2/8/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/8/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2/9/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
2/9/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/9/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
2/9/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2/10/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/10/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Transportation
2/10/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2/11/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
2/11/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/11/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
2/12/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
2/12/21
Hearing
House Joint Approps Subcom on Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, and Justice
2/15/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
2/15/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
2/17/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
2/18/21
Hearing
House Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
3/1/21
Referred to Committee
House Appropriations
3/9/21
House Appropriations
3/10/21
House Appropriations
3/10/21
House Appropriations
3/11/21
House Appropriations
3/11/21
House Appropriations
3/12/21
Hearing
House Appropriations
3/12/21
Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended
16-8
R14-3
D2-5
House Appropriations
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
67-33
R67-0
D0-33
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
33-67
R0-67
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
34-66
R1-66
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
72-28
R67-0
D5-28
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
70-30
R67-0
D3-30
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
68-32
R67-0
D1-32
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
35-65
R2-65
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
67-33
R67-0
D0-33
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
67-33
R67-0
D0-33
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
33-67
R0-67
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
33-67
R0-67
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
33-67
R0-67
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
33-67
R0-67
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
34-66
R1-66
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
34-66
R1-66
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
33-67
R0-67
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
33-67
R0-67
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
35-65
R2-65
D33-0
House Floor
3/22/21
2nd Reading Passed as Amended
67-33
R67-0
D0-33
House Floor
3/24/21
3rd Reading Passed
67-32
R67-0
D0-32
House Floor
3/24/21
Transmitted to Senate
House Floor
3/24/21
First Reading
Senate Floor
3/24/21
Referred to Committee
Senate Finance and Claims
3/29/21
Senate Finance and Claims
3/30/21
Senate Finance and Claims
3/31/21
Senate Finance and Claims
3/31/21
Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
13-6
R9-3
D4-3
Senate Finance and Claims
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
50-0
R31-0
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
48-0
R29-0
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
20-30
R1-30
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
20-30
R1-30
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
22-28
R3-28
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
19-31
R0-31
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
20-30
R1-30
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
20-30
R20-11
D0-19
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
39-11
R31-0
D8-11
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
47-3
R31-0
D16-3
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
21-29
R2-29
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
22-28
R3-28
D19-0
Senate Floor
4/8/21
2nd Reading Concurred as Amended
34-16
R27-4
D7-12
Senate Floor
4/8/21
3rd Reading Concurred
33-17
R27-4
D6-13
Senate Floor
4/8/21
Returned to House with Amendments
Senate Floor
4/13/21
2nd Reading Senate Amendments Not Concurred
100-0
R67-0
D33-0
House Floor
4/13/21
Free Conference Committee Appointed
Senate Free Conference
4/15/21
Free Conference Committee Appointed
Senate Free Conference
4/27/21
Senate Free Conference
4/28/21
Senate Free Conference
4/28/21
Free Conference Committee Report Received
Senate Free Conference
4/28/21
Free Conference Committee Report Received
Senate Free Conference
4/28/21
2nd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted
43-7
R31-0
D12-7
Senate Floor
4/28/21
3rd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted
41-9
R30-1
D11-8
Senate Floor
4/29/21
2nd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted
67-33
R67-0
D0-33
House Floor
4/29/21
Reconsidered Previous Act; Remains in 2nd Reading FCC Process
92-3
R63-0
D29-3
House Floor
4/29/21
2nd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted
68-32
R67-0
D1-32
House Floor
4/29/21
Reconsidered Previous Action; Remains in 2nd Reading Process
Senate Floor
4/29/21
3rd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted
65-33
R65-0
D0-33
House Floor
4/29/21
2nd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted
43-7
R31-0
D12-7
Senate Floor
4/29/21
3rd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted
40-10
R29-2
D11-8
Senate Floor
5/11/21
Transmitted to Governor
Governor's Office
5/20/21
Signed by Governor
Governor's Office
5/20/21
Chapter Number Assigned
Secretary of State
Showing major bill actions only.
This table may omit bill actions recorded since this guide's last update. See the bill page in LAWS for an official reference.

More information about this guide is available here. Reach data reporter Eric Dietrich with questions, comments or bug reports for this project at edietrich@montanafreepress.org.

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