2023 Capitol Tracker

The lawmakers, bills and votes of the 68th Montana Legislature

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Last update: 3:47 PM May 28, 2024
πŸ“‘ Key billsπŸ—‚ All billsπŸ”Ž Find a billπŸ”Ž Find a lawmaker🏑 Your districtπŸ—“ CalendarπŸ“ What's happenedπŸ™‹ How to participate
πŸ› House
GOP-held 68-32
πŸ› Senate
GOP-held 34-16
πŸ–‹ Governor
Greg Gianforte (R)

Gov. Greg Gianforte

The 2023 Legislature is the second session of Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte's first term.

The governor appoints state agency heads and is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day management of government. The governor also prepares a budget proposal that serves as a starting point for the legislative appropriations process, where lawmakers determine how much the governor’s executive branch is allowed to spend.

Bills passed by the Legislature are sent to the governor, who can sign them into law, issue a veto, or let them become law without his signature. Vetos can be overridden by two-thirds majority votes in both the House and Senate.

804 2023 bills have been transmitted to Gov. Gianforte for his signature.

Awaiting action (0)

None at present

Vetoed (22)

Vetos can be overridden by two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate.
πŸ“‹ HB 5: Long-range building appropriations
Major infrastructure bill, generally funding state facility and university projects.
Mike Hopkins (R)πŸ“ƒ Bill textπŸ’΅ Fiscal noteπŸ– Proposed amendmentsπŸ“° 6 MTFP stories
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Reconcil.
❌Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 33: Allow county commissioners to initiate certain civil proceedings
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
❌Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 37: Generally revise child abuse and neglect laws
Adds legal requirements in child removal cases.
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
❌Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 73: Clarify agency's duty to permit inspection for legislative audit purposes
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
βœ…House
βœ…Reconcil.
❌Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 275: Revise definition of proposed mixing zone & well isolation zone
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
βœ…House
❌Gov.
Showing 5 of 22.

Vetoes overridden by Legislature (4)

πŸ“‹ SB 4: Require sharing of reports of abuse and neglect at Montana State Hospital
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
βœ…House
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ 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.
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 693: Clarify disclosure of public information that may be involved in litigation
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 868: Authorize transfers and other necessary measure to implement HB 2 section C
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Reconcil.
βœ…Gov.
Showing 4 of 4

Signed into law (767)

πŸ“‹ HB 1: Feed bill to fund 68th legislative session and prepare for 2025
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 1: Align payment schedule of school block grants
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
βœ…House
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 2: General Appropriations Act
Main state budget bill.
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Reconcil.
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 3: Supplemental Appropriations Bill
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 3: Revise forest land taxation laws
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
βœ…House
βœ…Gov.
Showing 5 of 767.

Became law without signature

Bills that have become law without the governor's signature after the governor chooses not to issue a signature or a veto by the 10-day deadline specified in the Montana Constitution.
πŸ“‹ HB 28: Increase legislator per diem reimbursements for lodging and meals
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Reconcil.
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 110: Making interim budget committees permanent
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 190: Provide for a state government performance and results act
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Reconcil.
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 306: Require candidates for office be registered to vote
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 400: Require agency reports to legislature to be in writing
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
Showing 5 of 8.
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Montana Free Press coverage

2023 legislative stories involving the Governor's Office.
πŸ“° Politics
Veto override push on long-debated marijuana money bill falls short
Apr 19, 2024 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Foster Care
Gianforte rebuts far-right accusations about child protection case
Jan 30, 2024 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
The veto and the void
Aug 25, 2023 β€’ Arren Kimbel-Sannit
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Filing period opens for homeowner property tax rebates
Aug 15, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
See money from the state in your bank account? It’s probably your Montana income tax rebate.
Jul 18, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Health Care
A plan to cut Montana’s Medicaid waiting list was met with bipartisan cheers. Then a veto.
Jul 17, 2023 β€’
πŸ“° State Government
Five ways to lower Montana’s residential property taxes
Jul 14, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
The bills the governor vetoed
Jun 30, 2023 β€’ MTFP Staff
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
How to claim your Montana tax rebates
Jun 16, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Education
Gov. Greg Gianforte signs school insurance trust bill
Jun 15, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° Health Care
Gianforte signs state budget, boosting Medicaid reimbursements by hundreds of millions
Jun 14, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° Education
Montana teachers, parents and education advocates challenge constitutionality of charter school bill
Jun 14, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Veto politics set up standoffs between Gianforte and lawmakers
May 26, 2023 β€’ Arren Kimbel-Sannit
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Gianforte takes veto scalpel to infrastructure bill
May 25, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Health Care
Bill defining β€˜sex’ as binary becomes law
May 22, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° Education
Gianforte signs dueling charter school bills
May 19, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° Health Care
Gianforte signs 15-week abortion ban
May 16, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° Environment
Gianforte signs bill banning state agencies from analyzing climate impactsΒ 
May 12, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Governor nixes pay bump for Montana legislatorsΒ 
May 12, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Environment
Three takeaways from lawmakers’ approach to natural resources management
May 11, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Gianforte vetoes bipartisan child welfare and state hospital reforms
May 11, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° Health Care
Families and doctors challenge Montana’s ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors
May 9, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° Energy
How the 68th Legislature shaped Montana’s energy policy
May 8, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° Politics
Bill sponsor pushes for veto override after Gianforte rejects popular marijuana tax bill
May 5, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
68th Montana Legislature adjourns
May 2, 2023 β€’ Arren Kimbel-Sannit
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Lawmakers approve governor’s change on career coaches
May 2, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Montana on cusp of banning merchant codes to ID gun shop salesΒ 
May 2, 2023 β€’ Justin Franz
πŸ“° Environment
Bill banning greenhouse gas analysis from permitting decisions heads to governor
Apr 28, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Gianforte signs gender-affirming care ban for transgender minors
Apr 28, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Gianforte signals he’ll sign TikTok ban β€”Β but prefers changes first
Apr 27, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
OPI procurement bill awaits action from Gianforte
Apr 27, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Gianforte’s son one of many lobbying governor against trans bills
Apr 26, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Attempt at housing compromise emerges in Legislature’s final days
Apr 25, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Education
Education advisory council convenes one last time
Apr 21, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Senate confirms Gianforte’s appointment to vacant 9th Judicial District seatΒ 
Apr 20, 2023 β€’ Arren Kimbel-Sannit
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Ban of medical care for transgender minors clears legislative hurdle
Apr 19, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Pro-housing zoning bills advance, but big funding remains in limbo
Apr 18, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Politics
Where to allocate weed tax revenues?
Apr 14, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° Energy
What was in the 1993 State Energy Policy, and why did lawmakers repeal it?
Apr 11, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° Education
School choice gaining legislative traction after years of debate
Apr 11, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° News
Abortion providers try to block 15-week restriction before it becomes law
Apr 10, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Democratic opposition may stymie Gianforte’s child tax credit push
Apr 6, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Housing
House brings down Gianforte’s β€˜HOMES Act’
Apr 3, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Gianforte’s flagship red-tape relief bill takes a legislative beating
Apr 3, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
4 Questions For: Gov. Greg Gianforte
Apr 3, 2023 β€’ MTFP Staff
πŸ“° Education
Montana Associated Students resolved in regents’ favor
Mar 28, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
The Viz: Montana’s $14.3 billionΒ budget, per capita
Mar 27, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Taxes
Gianforte signs $1 billion Republican tax rebate, tax-cut package into law
Mar 13, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° State Government
Montana Senate passes public record request bill
Mar 3, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° Mental Health
Information blackout shrouds new reports of harm at Montana State Hospital
Mar 2, 2023 β€’ Brad Tyer
πŸ“° Environment
Committee votes on four wolf bills as legislative deadline nearsΒ 
Mar 1, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° Environment
Fish and Wildlife Commission gains two new members
Feb 24, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Senate Judiciary tables two court appointment billsΒ 
Feb 24, 2023 β€’ Arren Kimbel-Sannit
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Republican lawmakers shy away from changing state’s constitutional right to abortion
Feb 17, 2023 β€’
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Montana Lawmakers seek more information about governor’s HEART fund
Feb 3, 2023 β€’
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
48 hours in Helena
Feb 2, 2023 β€’
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Billion-dollar tax rebate, spending package passes budget committee
Jan 27, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Gianforte delivers second State of the State
Jan 25, 2023 β€’ Arren Kimbel-Sannit
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
How to spend a $2.5 billion surplus? Lawmakers have no shortage of ideas.
Jan 25, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Legislative curtain opens on Gianforte’s β€˜red-tape relief’ push
Jan 20, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° Health Care
Medicaid and abortion top health agenda for Montana lawmakers
Jan 9, 2023 β€’
πŸ“° State Government
Gianforte budget proposal puts state surplus toward tax cuts, infrastructure and Montana State Hospital
Nov 10, 2022 β€’ Mara Silvers

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.

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