Key bill progress
Major budget bills • Other spending bills • Court administration • Legislative Power • Health systems • Child health and welfare • Abortion • LGBTQ rights • Education • Election administration • Energy and transportation • Wildlife • Housing • Marijuana • Water • Firearms • Other
Major legislation identified by MTFP reporters. Where ambiguous, official bill titles are annotated with plain language summaries.
How bills move through the Legislature
Major budget bills
| 📋 HB 2: General Appropriations Act Main state budget bill. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 5: Long-range building appropriations Major infrastructure bill, generally funding state facility and university projects. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ❌Gov. |
| 📋 HB 13: State Employee Pay Plan and revising laws governing state employees Provides raises for state workers. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
Other spending bills
| 📋 SB 121: Reduce top marginal income tax rate and increase EITC Cuts Montana income taxes and expands the state Earned Income Tax Credit on a long-term basis. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 192: Use surplus revenue for income tax and property tax refunds and payment of bonds Puts a portion of the state budget surplus to income tax rebates. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 212: Increase business equipment tax exemption Raises threshold for tax-exempt business property from $300,000 to $1 million. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 222: Provide rebates of property taxes paid on a principal residence Uses a portion of the state budget surplus for short-term property tax rebates. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 267: Create SAFER account for federal highway grants Puts $100 million into a highway fund to help the state access federal match dollars. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 268: Establish a child tax credit through the individual income tax | ✅1st Cmte. ✴️House ⚪️Senate ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 HB 280: Providing for circuit breaker income tax credit for property taxes paid Creates an income tax credit for property tax relief. | ✅1st Cmte. ✴️House ⚪️Senate ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 HB 569: Generally revise pension laws Transfers money into law enforcement pension systems and adjusts some policies. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 648: Provide for the best beginnings scholarship program Expands child care subsidy program. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 816: Revise distribution of surplus revenue Allocates an additional $135 million for property and income tax rebates. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 817: Provide for capital projects Allocates money for state prison facilities. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
Court administration
Changes to laws governing the Montana court system.
| 📋 SB 191: Revise preliminary injunction laws Raises the bar for courts to issue preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders in legal proceedings. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Gov. |
| 📋 SB 201: Revise judicial recusal laws when parties made campaign contributions Requires judges to recuse themselves from a case when parties or lawyers involved have donated a certain amount to their campaigns. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 326: Revise laws relating to the appointment of the judicial standards commission Gives the attorney general and speaker of the House appointment power for the body that reviews judicial misconduct complaints. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 695: Revise TRO standard for suits against the state and subdivisions of government Prevents courts from granting notice-less temporary restraining orders against the state or other units of government. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 915: Constitutional amendment to change process to select supreme court justices Proposes switching state supreme court justice selection from statewide elections to appointments made by the governor. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ❌Senate |
Legislative Power
| 📋 SB 490: Generally revising the legislature's investigative powers Broadens the Legislature’s subpoena and investigative powers. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 518: Authorize standing for legislature to bring lawsuit Makes it easier for lawmakers to participate in litigation over legislation. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 856: Generally revise capitol complex administration laws Expands legislative authority over portions of the state Capitol and surrounding buildings. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
Health systems
| 📋 HB 29: Revise laws related to involuntary commitment of people with dementia or TBI Limits the types of patients who can be committed to the Montana State Hospital. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ❌Gov. |
| 📋 SB 296: Revise nursing home and/or assisted living funding Provides inflation adjustments for nursing homes and revises waiver programs for senior and long-term care. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ❌Gov. |
| 📋 HB 649: Implement rates from provider rate study Increases Medicaid provider rates to benchmark rates identified by a state-commissioned study. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ❌Senate ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 HB 872: Provide funding for behavioral health system for future generations Allocates $300 million for expanding mental health infrastructure and services. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
Child health and welfare
| 📋 HB 16: Revise laws relating to child abuse and neglect proceedings Requires expedited court hearings after the state removes children from their homes. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 37: Generally revise child abuse and neglect laws Adds legal requirements in child removal cases. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ❌Gov. |
| 📋 HB 317: Provide for the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act Codifies federal protections for Native American children, families and tribal nations in state law. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
Abortion
| 📋 SB 154: Define the right to privacy to clarify no right to abortion Redefines a constitutional provision that currently protects abortion rights. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 544: Provide requirements for coverage of abortion under Medicaid and CHIP Requires pre-authorization and increased documentation for Medicaid-eligible abortions. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 575: Prohibit abortion of unborn viable children Bans abortions based on gestational viability, presumed at 24 weeks. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 625: Infant safety and care act Requires life-sustaining medical care for newborns, including those diagnosed with fatal health conditions. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 721: Restrict unborn child from dismemberment abortion Prohibits most second-trimester abortions by barring dilation and evacuation procedures. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
LGBTQ rights
Bills at the intersection of religious liberty, free speech and human rights.
| 📋 SB 99: Provide for a youth health protection act Prohibits gender-affirming medical and surgical care for transgender minors. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 303: Implement Medical Ethics and Diversity Act Allows medical providers to withhold services based on ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 359: Prohibit minors from attending drag shows Bars drag performances in publicly funded schools and libraries. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 SB 458: Define sex in Montana law Precludes legal recognition of transgender people and those with intersex conditions by defining 'sex' based on reproductive systems. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
Education
| 📋 SB 70: Revise the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program Expands eligibility for student loan assistance for new teachers. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 234: Revise dissemination of obscene material to minors laws Alters Montana obscenity laws so criminal penalties could apply to public school employees. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 332: Generally revise laws related to school employee health benefits Invests $60 million in establishing a statewide school health insurance trust. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 338: Revise laws related to Indian Education for All Enhances reporting requirements for schools that receive IEFA funds. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 352: Provide targeted interventions to support 3rd grade reading proficiency Lets some Montana kids enter kindergarten programs before age 5 to promote literacy. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 517: Constitutional amendment regarding board of regents Proposes allowing the Legislature to overrule university system regents on free speech policy. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate |
| 📋 HB 535: Revising education laws to provide a definition of "financial literacy" Proscribes how public schools should teach financial literacy courses. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 549: Authorizing establishment of public charter schools Creates a charter school system under the jurisdiction of existing school boards and state education officials. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 562: Authorize establishment of community choice schools Creates a charter school system under an autonomous state commission. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 588: Revise TEACH Act incentives to increase starting teacher salary Expands eligibility for incentives that boost starting teacher pay. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
Election administration
| 📋 SB 109: Revise laws related to redistricting the PSC Redraws the districts used to elect the state utility regulation commission. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 172: Revise laws related to post-election audits Lets counties add a local race to their routine post-election audit of statewide races to verify voting machine accuracy. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 196: Revise election laws related to the counting of votes Requires counties to conduct Election Day ballot counts without taking a break. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 SB 481: Require cast vote records Requires counties to collect and retain digital records of ballots counted by vote tabulating machines. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✴️Reconcil. ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 SB 498: Revise laws related to absentee ballots Requires counties to routinely review absentee voter lists to verify address accuracy. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 SB 534: Constitutional amendment on redistricting Proposes amendment barring use of political data while drawing political maps. | ✅1st Cmte. ✴️Senate ⚪️House |
| 📋 SB 565: Generally revise primary election and nomination laws Raises the number of signatures non-major party candidates must gather to qualify for the ballot. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ❌House ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 SB 566: Require top two primary for U.S. Senate races ‘Jungle primary’ bill. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ❌House ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 HB 774: Generally revise election laws Combines all Montana elections on the same ballots in even-numbered years. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ❌Senate ⚪️Gov. |
Energy and transportation
| 📋 HB 55: An act establishing a tax on electric vehicle charging stations | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 60: An act providing for an annual fee on electric vehicles registered in the state | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 284: Revise laws related to approval of electricity supply resources Would allow state regulators to pre-approve energy projects proposed by large monopoly utilities. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 SB 557: Revise MEPA relating to litigation Makes it harder to challenge projects under the Montana Environmental Policy Act. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 971: Revise environmental policy act Specifies that state environmental reviews can’t analyze greenhouse gas impacts. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Gov. |
Wildlife
| 📋 SB 85: Require management of delisted grizzly bears at sustainable levels Articulates a broad management framework for grizzlies if they are taken off the endangered species list. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ❌House ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 SB 295: Revising laws to accommodate grizzly bear delisting Provides for relocation or killing of bears involved in livestock conflicts if grizzlies are delisted. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 372: Establish right to hunt in Constitution Submits a 2024 ballot measure that would create a constitutional right to hunt, trap and fish. | ✅1st Cmte. ✴️House ⚪️Senate |
Housing
| 📋 SB 245: Revise municipal zoning to allow multifamily and mixed use development Requires larger cities to allow apartment-style housing in most commercial zones. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 SB 323: Allow for duplex, triplex, and fourplex housing in city zoning As amended, requires larger cities to allow duplexes on all home lots. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 SB 382: Create the Montana Land Use Planning Act Comprehensive planning statute overhaul that would require large cities to allocate space to house population growth. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 546: Authorize additional funding for coal trust loan program for housing Puts $15 million into coal trust-backed loans to subsidizes price-restricted housing projects. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ❌Senate ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 HB 574: Establish workforce housing trust fund Puts $500 million of budget surplus to price-restricted housing efforts. | ❌1st Cmte. ⚪️House ⚪️Senate ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 HB 819: Create Montana community reinvestment act to fund workforce housing As amended, bundles several housing investment proposals into a single bill. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ✅Senate ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 825: Provide funding to address affordable housing Boosts housing construction by putting $200 million toward infrastructure loans. | ✅1st Cmte. ✴️House ⚪️Senate ⚪️Gov. |
| 📋 HB 927: Authorize additional authority for coal trust housing loans Puts $115 million into coal trust-backed loans to subsidize price-restricted housing projects. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅House ❌Senate ⚪️Gov. |
Marijuana
| 📋 SB 442: Allow marijuana tax revenue to be used for county road maintenance Redirects revenue that currently goes toward wildlife habitat and public access programs. | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ❌Gov. |
Water
| 📋 HB 642: Revise exempt wells laws Expands the volume of well water available to large, multi-phase subdivisions outside of a water rights permitting process. | ❌1st Cmte. ⚪️House ⚪️Senate ⚪️Gov. |
Firearms
| 📋 SB 359: Prohibit tracking of firearms sales by financial institutions | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Reconcil. ✅Gov. |
| 📋 HB 551: Implement constitutional carry into the Montana Constitution Removes language specifying that the state’s constitutional right to bear arms doesn’t permit concealed carry. | ✅1st Cmte. ✴️House ⚪️Senate |
Other
| 📋 SB 419: Ban tik-tok in Montana | ✅1st Cmte. ✅Senate ✅House ✅Gov. |
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About the 2023 Montana Free Press Capitol Tracker
This guide is an effort to make the quantifiable aspects of the Montana Legislature more accessible to the public by compiling information about lawmakers, proposed bills and the legislative process. This is a project of Montana Free Press, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom that aims to provide Montanans with in-depth, nonpartisan news coverage.
The information presented here is collected from a variety of sources including the Montana Legislature’s public roster and its official bill-tracking system, the Legislative Automated Workflow System, or LAWS. Reporting and web design was done primarily by MTFP Deputy Editor Eric Dietrich. Please contact him at edietrich@montanafreepress.org with bug reports, questions or suggestions.
Think there's a potential news story to be done about a bill or lawmaker you see here? Tell us at tips@montanafreepress.org.