2023 Capitol Tracker

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

A digital guide by
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Last update: 12:46 AM Aug 29, 2023
📑 Key bills🗂 All bills🔎 Find a bill🔎 Find a lawmaker🏡 Your district🗓 Calendar📝 What's happened🙋 How to participate
🏛 House
GOP-held 68-32
🏛 Senate
GOP-held 34-16
🖋 Governor
Greg Gianforte (R)
Rep. Brad Barker, HD 58

Rep. Brad Barker

First-session Republican from Roberts
Representing House District 58
Joliet, Red Lodge, Belfry
(406) 426-1034 • Brad.Barker@legmt.gov
Committees •Bills •Key votes •Voting stats •2022 election margin •MTFP Coverage

2023 is the first session Barker has served in the Legislature.

Committee assignments

House Taxation
House Transportation
House Agriculture

Bills sponsored

📋 HJ 23: Interim study of disaster and emergency service recovery response
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✴️Senate
📋 HJ 24: Interim study of prisons
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✴️Senate
📋 HJ 25: Request interim study of school funding
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✴️Senate
📋 HB 107: Generally revise the duties of SERC
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Gov.
📋 HB 191: Eliminating class D motor carrier regulation
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text
❌1st Cmte.
⚪️House
⚪️Senate
⚪️Gov.
📋 HB 278: Revise motor carrier rate regulation laws
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note
❌1st Cmte.
⚪️House
⚪️Senate
⚪️Gov.
📋 HB 328: Require certain govt boards to record public meetings in audio and video format
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note
❌1st Cmte.
⚪️House
⚪️Senate
⚪️Gov.
📋 HB 352: Provide targeted interventions to support 3rd grade reading proficiency
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note📰 2 MTFP stories
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Gov.
📋 HB 583: Revise occupations and education laws for military license reciprocity
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Reconcil.
✅Gov.
📋 HB 723: Revising class D motor carrier regulation
Brad Barker (R)📃 Bill text
❌1st Cmte.
⚪️House
⚪️Senate
⚪️Gov.
Showing 10 of 16.
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Key bill votes

Most recent floor votes on bills identified as notable by MTFP staff.
Motion / BillBarker (R)OutcomeRepublicansDemocrats
Do Concur /
HB 2: General Appropriations Act		YES
Y
94-6
Y
62-6
Y
32-0
Do Concur /
HB 5: Long-range building appropriations		YES
Y
68-28
Y
38-28
Y
30-0
Do Pass /
HB 13: State Employee Pay Plan and revising laws governing state employees		YES
Y
89-7
Y
59-7
Y
30-0
Do Adopt /
HB 16: Revise laws relating to child abuse and neglect proceedings		YES
Y
92-4
Y
66-0
Y
26-4
Do Pass /
HB 29: Revise laws related to involuntary commitment of people with dementia or TBI		YES
Y
91-6
Y
64-2
Y
27-4
Do Pass /
HB 33: Allow county commissioners to initiate certain civil proceedings		YES
Y
90-9
Y
58-9
Y
32-0
Do Pass /
HB 37: Generally revise child abuse and neglect laws		YES
Y
96-2
Y
65-2
Y
31-0
Do Concur /
HB 55: An act establishing a tax on electric vehicle charging stations		YES
Y
94-5
Y
65-2
Y
29-3
Do Pass /
HB 60: An act providing for an annual fee on electric vehicles registered in the state		YES
Y
92-8
Y
65-3
Y
27-5
Do Pass /
HB 172: Revise laws related to post-election audits		YES
Y
81-19
Y
65-3
N
16-16
Do Pass /
HB 192: Use surplus revenue for income tax and property tax refunds and payment of bonds		YES
Y
70-29
Y
68-0
N
2-29
Do Concur /
HB 196: Revise election laws related to the counting of votes		YES
Y
71-28
Y
68-0
N
3-28
Do Pass /
HB 212: Increase business equipment tax exemption		YES
Y
67-32
Y
67-1
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 222: Provide rebates of property taxes paid on a principal residence		YES
Y
69-30
Y
68-0
N
1-30
Do Concur /
HB 234: Revise dissemination of obscene material to minors laws		YES
Y
66-33
Y
66-2
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 267: Create SAFER account for federal highway grants		YES
Y
99-0
Y
68-0
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 268: Establish a child tax credit through the individual income tax		YES
Y
77-21
Y
51-15
Y
26-6
Do Pass As Amended /
HB 280: Providing for circuit breaker income tax credit for property taxes paid		NO
N
38-62
N
6-62
Y
32-0
Do Concur /
HB 284: Revise laws related to approval of electricity supply resources		YES
Y
90-8
Y
64-3
Y
26-5
Do Pass /
HB 303: Implement Medical Ethics and Diversity Act		YES
Y
63-33
Y
63-4
N
0-29
Do Adopt /
HB 317: Provide for the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act		YES
Y
64-32
Y
35-31
Y
29-1
Do Pass /
HB 326: Revise laws relating to the appointment of the judicial standards commission		YES
Y
66-32
Y
66-1
N
0-31
Do Concur /
HB 332: Generally revise laws related to school employee health benefits		YES
Y
71-25
Y
41-25
Y
30-0
Do Adopt /
HB 338: Revise laws related to Indian Education for All		YES
Y
69-25
Y
39-25
Y
30-0
Do Pass /
HB 352: Provide targeted interventions to support 3rd grade reading proficiency		YES
Y
77-20
Y
46-20
Y
31-0
Do Adopt /
HB 359: Prohibit minors from attending drag shows		YES
Y
65-35
Y
65-3
N
0-32
Do Pass /
HB 372: Establish right to hunt in Constitution		YES
Y
64-34
Y
64-4
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 419: Allow bonding for injunctions that prevent hunting or harvesting of game		YES
Y
65-33
Y
65-1
N
0-32
Do Concur /
HB 423: Revise laws related to compensation for wrongfully convicted individuals		YES
Y
87-8
Y
65-1
Y
22-7
Do Concur /
HB 479: Provide appropriation for DOJ to assume law enforcement PL-280		YES
Y
64-28
Y
62-2
N
2-26
Do Pass /
HB 517: Constitutional amendment regarding board of regents		NO
Y
61-37
Y
61-7
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 518: Authorize standing for legislature to bring lawsuit		YES
Y
68-31
Y
68-0
N
0-31
Do Concur /
HB 535: Revising education laws to provide a definition of "financial literacy"		YES
Y
87-11
Y
67-0
Y
20-11
Do Pass /
HB 544: Provide requirements for coverage of abortion under Medicaid and CHIP		YES
Y
66-32
Y
66-2
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 546: Authorize additional funding for coal trust loan program for housing		YES
Y
65-33
Y
35-33
Y
30-0
Do Pass /
HB 549: Authorizing establishment of public charter schools		YES
Y
58-33
Y
44-18
N
14-15
Do Concur /
HB 551: Implement constitutional carry into the Montana Constitution		YES
Y
62-34
Y
62-4
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 562: Authorize establishment of community choice schools		YES
Y
59-33
Y
58-5
N
1-28
Do Concur /
HB 569: Generally revise pension laws		YES
Y
69-27
Y
63-3
N
6-24
Do Concur /
HB 575: Prohibit abortion of unborn viable children		NO
Y
66-32
Y
66-1
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 588: Revise TEACH Act incentives to increase starting teacher salary		YES
Y
89-0
Y
61-0
Y
28-0
Do Concur /
HB 625: Infant safety and care act		YES
Y
67-30
Y
67-0
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 648: Provide for the best beginnings scholarship program		YES
Y
65-34
N
34-34
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 649: Implement rates from provider rate study		YES
Y
78-21
Y
47-21
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 693: Clarify disclosure of public information that may be involved in litigation		YES
Y
94-4
Y
66-1
Y
28-3
Do Pass /
HB 695: Revise TRO standard for suits against the state and subdivisions of government		YES
Y
73-25
Y
67-0
N
6-25
Do Concur /
HB 707: Allow certain elementary districts to create new high school district		YES
Y
99-0
Y
68-0
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 721: Restrict unborn child from dismemberment abortion		YES
Y
67-31
Y
67-0
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 748: Allow zoning for separation of incompatible uses of property		YES
Y
98-0
Y
67-0
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 774: Generally revise election laws		YES
Y
63-35
Y
62-6
N
1-29
Do Concur /
HB 797: Require agency reporting on financial assistance to tribes		YES
Y
98-0
Y
67-0
Y
31-0
Do Concur /
HB 808: Revise surety insurance laws related to bail bonds		YES
Y
69-29
Y
66-2
N
3-27
Do Concur /
HB 816: Revise distribution of surplus revenue		YES
Y
69-27
Y
64-2
N
5-25
Do Concur /
HB 817: Provide for capital projects		YES
Y
91-5
Y
64-2
Y
27-3
Do Concur /
HB 819: Create Montana community reinvestment act to fund workforce housing		YES
Y
61-37
Y
41-27
Y
20-10
Do Pass /
HB 825: Provide funding to address affordable housing		YES
N
30-69
N
23-45
N
7-24
Do Concur /
HB 828: Authorize an ambulance provider assessment program		YES
Y
86-11
Y
59-8
Y
27-3
Do Concur /
HB 856: Generally revise capitol complex administration laws		YES
Y
95-1
Y
65-1
Y
30-0
Do Concur /
HB 872: Provide funding for behavioral health system for future generations		YES
Y
56-40
Y
54-12
N
2-28
Do Concur /
HB 889: Revise the Residential Mobile Home Lot Rental Act		YES
Y
68-31
Y
37-31
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 915: Constitutional amendment to change process to select supreme court justices		NO
Y
59-39
Y
59-9
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 927: Authorize additional authority for coal trust housing loans		NO
Y
67-32
Y
36-32
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 968: Revise abortion laws concerning parental consultation		YES
Y
67-31
Y
67-0
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 971: Revise environmental policy act		YES
Y
70-28
Y
66-1
N
4-27
Do Concur /
SB 4: Require sharing of reports of abuse and neglect at Montana State Hospital		YES
Y
99-0
Y
68-0
Y
31-0
Do Concur /
SB 70: Revise the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program		YES
Y
59-37
N
31-37
Y
28-0
Do Concur /
SB 99: Provide for a youth health protection act		YES
Y
65-33
Y
65-2
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 109: Revise laws related to redistricting the PSC		YES
Y
65-32
Y
65-1
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 121: Reduce top marginal income tax rate and increase EITC		YES
Y
68-30
Y
68-0
N
0-30
Do Concur /
SB 154: Define the right to privacy to clarify no right to abortion		YES
Y
67-33
Y
67-1
N
0-32
Do Concur /
SB 191: Revise preliminary injunction laws		YES
Y
67-30
Y
67-0
N
0-30
Do Concur /
SB 201: Revise judicial recusal laws when parties made campaign contributions		YES
Y
68-32
Y
67-1
N
1-31
Do Adopt /
SB 245: Revise municipal zoning to allow multifamily and mixed use development		YES
Y
87-8
Y
58-7
Y
29-1
Do Concur /
SB 275: Revise definition of proposed mixing zone & well isolation zone		YES
Y
60-40
Y
60-8
N
0-32
Do Concur /
SB 295: Revising laws to accommodate grizzly bear delisting		YES
Y
73-27
Y
67-1
N
6-26
Do Concur /
SB 296: Revise nursing home and/or assisted living funding		YES
Y
91-8
Y
60-8
Y
31-0
Do Concur /
SB 301: Revise property laws related to lakeshore regulations		YES
Y
65-35
Y
65-3
N
0-32
Do Concur /
SB 323: Allow for duplex, triplex, and fourplex housing in city zoning		YES
Y
72-26
Y
45-22
Y
27-4
Do Concur /
SB 359: Prohibit tracking of firearms sales by financial institutions		YES
Y
69-28
Y
66-0
N
3-28
Do Concur /
SB 382: Create the Montana Land Use Planning Act		YES
Y
95-5
Y
66-2
Y
29-3
Do Concur /
SB 419: Ban tik-tok in Montana		NO
Y
54-43
Y
53-14
N
1-29
Do Concur /
SB 442: Allow marijuana tax revenue to be used for county road maintenance		NO
Y
82-17
Y
51-17
Y
31-0
Do Concur /
SB 458: Define sex in Montana law		YES
Y
63-37
Y
62-6
N
1-31
Do Concur /
SB 481: Require cast vote records		YES
Y
60-39
Y
60-8
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 485: Raising hourly rate of legislator compensation		YES
Y
56-43
Y
39-29
Y
17-14
Do Concur /
SB 490: Generally revising the legislature's investigative powers		YES
Y
66-31
Y
66-0
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 498: Revise laws related to absentee ballots		YES
Y
91-9
Y
68-0
Y
23-9
Do Concur /
SB 499: Revise adverse possession laws relating to certain land and improvements		YES
Y
62-37
Y
62-6
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 534: Constitutional amendment on redistricting		YES
N
65-34
N
65-3
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 557: Revise MEPA relating to litigation		YES
Y
64-35
Y
64-4
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 565: Generally revise primary election and nomination laws		NO
N
39-60
Y
39-28
N
0-32

Floor vote statistics

Calculations based on 2,697 House floor votes in 2023 involving bills.
🥇 96%
of votes cast on winning side
Average for House Republicans is 90%.
🔴 93%
of votes cast on side taken by most Republicans
Average for House Republicans is 91%.
🔵 74%
of votes cast on side taken by most Democrats
Average for House Republicans is 71%.
Barker has been marked absent or excused for 31 votes. Average for House lawmakers is 21.1.

HD 58 election results

Last in-cycle for House election in 2022. House seats are elected every two years, Senate seats every four.

General election vote, 2022

(R) BRAD BARKER(R) 66%(D) 34%
Won by 33% (1,901 votes)

Party primary vote, 2022

(R) BRAD BARKER(R) 100%
Ran unopposed

Governor vote in district, 2020

(R) GIANFORTE(R) 61%(D) 35%
Won by 26% (1,805 votes)

Montana Free Press coverage

MTFP legislative reporting involving Barker.
📰 2023 Legislature
What’s on the table as lawmakers negotiate major spending proposals
Apr 10, 2023 • Eric Dietrich
📰 Education
Education policy at the Legislature’s half-way mark
Mar 7, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen

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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