2023 Capitol Tracker

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

A digital guide by | Support this work
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)
Sen. Brad Molnar, SD 28

Sen. Brad Molnar

Sixth-session Republican from Laurel

Representing Senate District 28
Laurel, South of Billings

Molnar previously served in the Montana Senate in 2021, as well as the House in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999.

Committee assignments

Bills sponsored

πŸ“‹ SJ 35: Study of education opportunities for certain inmates
Brad Molnar (R)πŸ“ƒ Bill text
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
✴️House
πŸ“‹ SJ 37: Provide for a study regarding the creation of customer-owned utility co-ops
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
✴️House
πŸ“‹ SB 153: Revise ballot initiative laws
βœ…1st Cmte.
✴️Senate
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 160: Generally revise drug and human trafficking laws
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
❌House
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 161: Revise board of investment laws
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 298: Revise laws related to hunting by disabled persons
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
❌House
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 306: Revise education laws related to extracurricular activities
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 355: Require disqualification of certain judges receiving political contributions
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…Senate
❌House
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 387: Revise laws related to coal, coal tax, and coal-fired unit remediation
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ SB 394: Establish statutory requirements for legislative conference committees
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Gov.
Showing 10 of 20.
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Key bill votes

Most recent floor votes on bills identified as notable by MTFP staff.
Motion / BillMolnar (R)OutcomeRepublicansDemocrats
Do Concur /
HB 2: General Appropriations Act
NO
Y
32-18
Y
31-3
N
1-15
Do Concur As Amended /
HB 5: Long-range building appropriations
NO
Y
30-20
N
16-18
Y
14-2
Do Concur /
HB 13: State Employee Pay Plan and revising laws governing state employees
YES
Y
48-1
Y
32-1
Y
16-0
Do Adopt /
HB 16: Revise laws relating to child abuse and neglect proceedings
YES
Y
35-15
Y
34-0
N
1-15
Do Concur /
HB 29: Revise laws related to involuntary commitment of people with dementia or TBI
YES
Y
49-0
Y
34-0
Y
15-0
Do Concur /
HB 33: Allow county commissioners to initiate certain civil proceedings
YES
Y
49-1
Y
34-0
Y
15-1
Do Concur /
HB 37: Generally revise child abuse and neglect laws
YES
Y
41-9
Y
25-9
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 55: An act establishing a tax on electric vehicle charging stations
NO
Y
35-14
Y
21-13
Y
14-1
Do Concur /
HB 60: An act providing for an annual fee on electric vehicles registered in the state
YES
Y
39-11
Y
30-4
Y
9-7
Do Concur /
HB 172: Revise laws related to post-election audits
YES
Y
49-1
Y
33-1
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 192: Use surplus revenue for income tax and property tax refunds and payment of bonds
YES
Y
32-18
Y
32-2
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 196: Revise election laws related to the counting of votes
YES
Y
49-1
Y
34-0
Y
15-1
Do Concur /
HB 212: Increase business equipment tax exemption
NO
Y
33-17
Y
33-1
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 222: Provide rebates of property taxes paid on a principal residence
YES
Y
34-16
Y
34-0
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 234: Revise dissemination of obscene material to minors laws
YES
Y
34-16
Y
33-1
N
1-15
Do Concur /
HB 267: Create SAFER account for federal highway grants
YES
Y
33-17
Y
33-1
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 284: Revise laws related to approval of electricity supply resources
YES
Y
43-7
Y
34-0
Y
9-7
Do Concur /
HB 303: Implement Medical Ethics and Diversity Act
YES
Y
31-19
Y
31-3
N
0-16
Do Adopt /
HB 317: Provide for the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act
YES
Y
39-11
Y
23-11
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 326: Revise laws relating to the appointment of the judicial standards commission
YES
Y
29-21
Y
29-5
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 332: Generally revise laws related to school employee health benefits
NO
Y
29-21
N
13-21
Y
16-0
Do Adopt /
HB 338: Revise laws related to Indian Education for All
YES
Y
48-2
Y
32-2
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 352: Provide targeted interventions to support 3rd grade reading proficiency
YES
Y
27-23
N
11-23
Y
16-0
Do Adopt /
HB 359: Prohibit minors from attending drag shows
YES
Y
29-21
Y
29-5
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 372: Establish right to hunt in Constitution
YES
N
26-21
N
26-5
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 419: Allow bonding for injunctions that prevent hunting or harvesting of game
YES
Y
33-17
Y
33-1
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 423: Revise laws related to compensation for wrongfully convicted individuals
YES
Y
44-1
Y
30-1
Y
14-0
Do Concur /
HB 479: Provide appropriation for DOJ to assume law enforcement PL-280
YES
Y
35-14
Y
33-1
N
2-13
Do Concur /
HB 517: Constitutional amendment regarding board of regents
YES
N
27-23
N
27-7
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 518: Authorize standing for legislature to bring lawsuit
YES
Y
33-17
Y
33-1
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 535: Revising education laws to provide a definition of "financial literacy"
YES
Y
50-0
Y
34-0
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 544: Provide requirements for coverage of abortion under Medicaid and CHIP
YES
Y
31-18
Y
31-2
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 549: Authorizing establishment of public charter schools
NO
Y
27-23
Y
27-7
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 551: Implement constitutional carry into the Montana Constitution
YES
N
33-17
N
33-1
N
0-16
Indefinitely Postpone -Fitzpatrick /
HB 562: Authorize establishment of community choice schools
YES
Y
26-24
N
11-23
Y
15-1
Do Concur /
HB 569: Generally revise pension laws
NO
Y
26-24
Y
26-8
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 575: Prohibit abortion of unborn viable children
YES
Y
30-20
Y
30-4
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 588: Revise TEACH Act incentives to increase starting teacher salary
YES
Y
46-4
Y
30-4
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 625: Infant safety and care act
YES
Y
31-19
Y
31-3
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 648: Provide for the best beginnings scholarship program
NO
Y
29-20
N
14-20
Y
15-0
Take HB 649 from FCS and put on 2R today -Pope /
HB 649: Implement rates from provider rate study
YES
N
21-29
N
5-29
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 693: Clarify disclosure of public information that may be involved in litigation
YES
Y
48-2
Y
34-0
Y
14-2
Do Concur /
HB 695: Revise TRO standard for suits against the state and subdivisions of government
YES
Y
34-16
Y
34-0
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 707: Allow certain elementary districts to create new high school district
YES
Y
36-14
Y
20-14
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 721: Restrict unborn child from dismemberment abortion
YES
Y
31-19
Y
31-3
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 748: Allow zoning for separation of incompatible uses of property
YES
Y
38-12
Y
23-11
Y
15-1
Do Concur /
HB 797: Require agency reporting on financial assistance to tribes
YES
Y
50-0
Y
34-0
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 808: Revise surety insurance laws related to bail bonds
YES
Y
31-17
Y
27-6
N
4-11
Do Concur /
HB 816: Revise distribution of surplus revenue
YES
Y
45-3
Y
30-3
Y
15-0
Do Concur /
HB 817: Provide for capital projects
YES
Y
28-22
Y
28-6
N
0-16
Do Adopt /
HB 819: Create Montana community reinvestment act to fund workforce housing
NO
Y
28-22
Y
28-6
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 828: Authorize an ambulance provider assessment program
NO
Y
35-13
Y
20-13
Y
15-0
Do Concur /
HB 856: Generally revise capitol complex administration laws
YES
Y
38-12
Y
26-8
Y
12-4
Do Concur /
HB 872: Provide funding for behavioral health system for future generations
NO
Y
44-6
Y
28-6
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 889: Revise the Residential Mobile Home Lot Rental Act
YES
Y
30-20
N
14-20
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 915: Constitutional amendment to change process to select supreme court justices
NO
N
23-27
N
23-11
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 968: Revise abortion laws concerning parental consultation
YES
Y
31-18
Y
31-3
N
0-15
Do Concur /
HB 971: Revise environmental policy act
YES
Y
34-15
Y
34-0
N
0-15
Do Pass /
SB 4: Require sharing of reports of abuse and neglect at Montana State Hospital
YES
Y
50-0
Y
34-0
Y
16-0
Do Pass /
SB 70: Revise the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program
YES
Y
46-4
Y
30-4
Y
16-0
Do Pass /
SB 85: Require management of delisted grizzly bears at sustainable levels
YES
Y
37-12
Y
34-0
N
3-12
Do Concur /
SB 99: Provide for a youth health protection act
YES
Y
31-19
Y
31-3
N
0-16
Do Pass /
SB 109: Revise laws related to redistricting the PSC
YES
Y
30-20
Y
30-4
N
0-16
Do Pass /
SB 121: Reduce top marginal income tax rate and increase EITC
YES
Y
35-15
Y
34-0
N
1-15
Do Pass /
SB 154: Define the right to privacy to clarify no right to abortion
YES
Y
28-21
Y
28-6
N
0-15
Do Pass /
SB 191: Revise preliminary injunction laws
NO
Y
33-17
Y
33-1
N
0-16
Do Concur /
SB 201: Revise judicial recusal laws when parties made campaign contributions
NO
Y
31-18
Y
31-2
N
0-16
Do Adopt /
SB 245: Revise municipal zoning to allow multifamily and mixed use development
YES
Y
49-0
Y
34-0
Y
15-0
Do Pass /
SB 275: Revise definition of proposed mixing zone & well isolation zone
YES
Y
36-14
Y
31-3
N
5-11
Do Concur /
SB 295: Revising laws to accommodate grizzly bear delisting
YES
Y
35-12
Y
31-0
N
4-12
Do Concur /
SB 296: Revise nursing home and/or assisted living funding
YES
Y
32-18
Y
23-11
Y
9-7
Do Pass /
SB 301: Revise property laws related to lakeshore regulations
YES
Y
32-18
Y
30-4
N
2-14
Do Concur /
SB 323: Allow for duplex, triplex, and fourplex housing in city zoning
NO
Y
35-14
Y
30-3
N
5-11
Do Concur /
SB 359: Prohibit tracking of firearms sales by financial institutions
YES
Y
37-13
Y
34-0
N
3-13
Do Concur /
SB 382: Create the Montana Land Use Planning Act
YES
Y
50-0
Y
34-0
Y
16-0
Do Pass /
SB 419: Ban tik-tok in Montana
YES
Y
30-20
Y
28-6
N
2-14
Do Concur /
SB 442: Allow marijuana tax revenue to be used for county road maintenance
NO
Y
48-1
Y
33-1
Y
15-0
Do Concur /
SB 458: Define sex in Montana law
YES
Y
28-22
Y
28-6
N
0-16
Do Not Concur /
SB 481: Require cast vote records
YES
Y
35-15
Y
34-0
N
1-15
Do Pass /
SB 485: Raising hourly rate of legislator compensation
NO
Y
33-17
Y
24-10
Y
9-7
Do Concur /
SB 490: Generally revising the legislature's investigative powers
YES
Y
34-16
Y
34-0
N
0-16
Do Concur /
SB 498: Revise laws related to absentee ballots
YES
Y
49-0
Y
34-0
Y
15-0
Do Concur /
SB 499: Revise adverse possession laws relating to certain land and improvements
NO
Y
48-1
Y
33-1
Y
15-0
Suspend Rules -Fitzpatrick /
SB 534: Constitutional amendment on redistricting
YES
Y
31-17
Y
31-2
N
0-15
Do Concur /
SB 557: Revise MEPA relating to litigation
YES
Y
34-16
Y
34-0
N
0-16
Do Pass /
SB 565: Generally revise primary election and nomination laws
NO
Y
26-24
Y
26-8
N
0-16
Do Pass /
SB 566: Require top two primary for U.S. Senate races
NO
Y
27-23
Y
27-7
N
0-16

Floor vote statistics

Calculations based on 2,598 Senate floor votes in 2023 involving bills.
πŸ₯‡ 83%
of votes cast on winning side
Average for Senate Republicans is 91%.
πŸ”΄ 82%
of votes cast on side taken by most Republicans
Average for Senate Republicans is 92%.
πŸ”΅ 68%
of votes cast on side taken by most Democrats
Average for Senate Republicans is 57%.
Molnar has been marked absent or excused for 11 votes. Average for Senate lawmakers is 6.9.

SD 28 election results

Last in-cycle for Senate election in 2020. House seats are elected every two years, Senate seats every four.

General election vote, 2020

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

Party primary vote, 2020

(R) BRAD MOLNAR(R) 64%(R) 36%
Won by 29% (1,267 votes)

Governor vote in district, 2020

(R) GIANFORTE(R) 64%(D) 30%
Won by 34% (3,628 votes)

Montana Free Press coverage

MTFP legislative reporting involving Molnar.
πŸ“° 2024 Elections
The GOP-heavy primary for Montana’s utility-regulating PSC
May 21, 2024 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° Education
Gianforte signs dueling charter school bills
May 19, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° Energy
How the 68th Legislature shaped Montana’s energy policy
May 8, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° Education
Senate votes down dueling charter school bills
Apr 26, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Bill to define β€˜sex’ clears first major Senate vote
Mar 15, 2023 β€’ Mara Silvers
πŸ“° Environment
Fish and Wildlife Commission gains two new members
Feb 24, 2023 β€’ Amanda Eggert
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Bill would reverse ballot issue requirements created in 2021 sessionΒ 
Jan 23, 2023 β€’ Arren Kimbel-Sannit

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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