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)
Sen. Jason Small, SD 21

Sen. Jason Small

Fourth-session Republican from Busby
House Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Chair
Representing Senate District 21
Busby, Hardin, Crow Agency, Lame Deer, Ashland
(406) 690-0923 • Jason.Small@legmt.gov
Committees •Bills •Key votes •Voting stats •2022 election margin •MTFP Coverage

Small previously served in the Montana Senate in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Committee assignments

Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs - Chair 🪑
Senate Natural Resources
Senate Energy and Telecommunications - Vice Chair

Bills sponsored

📋 SR 29: Confirm governor's appointees for the board of realty regulation
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 30: Confirm governor's appointees for the board of real estate appraisers
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 34: Confirm governor's appointees for the board of private security
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 35: Confirm governor's appointees for the board of horseracing
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 36: Confirm governor's appointees for the board of funeral services
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 37: Confirm governor's appointees for the state electrical board
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 38: Confirm governor's appointees for the board of barbers and cosmetologists
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 39: Confirm governor's appointees for the board of public accountants
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 40: Confirm governor's appointee for the board of plumbers
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
📋 SR 41: Confirm governor's appointees for board of architects and landscape architects
Jason Small (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅Senate
Showing 10 of 38.
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Key bill votes

Most recent floor votes on bills identified as notable by MTFP staff.
Motion / BillSmall (R)OutcomeRepublicansDemocrats
Do Concur /
HB 2: General Appropriations Act		YES
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		NO
Y
41-9
Y
25-9
Y
16-0
Do Concur /
HB 55: An act establishing a tax on electric vehicle charging stations		YES
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		YES
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		NO
Y
29-21
Y
29-5
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 332: Generally revise laws related to school employee health benefits		YES
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		NO
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		Excused
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		NO
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		YES
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		NO
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		NO
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		YES
Y
28-22
Y
28-6
N
0-16
Do Concur /
HB 828: Authorize an ambulance provider assessment program		YES
Y
35-13
Y
20-13
Y
15-0
Do Concur /
HB 856: Generally revise capitol complex administration laws		NO
Y
38-12
Y
26-8
Y
12-4
Do Concur /
HB 872: Provide funding for behavioral health system for future generations		YES
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		YES
Y
33-17
Y
33-1
N
0-16
Do Concur /
SB 201: Revise judicial recusal laws when parties made campaign contributions		YES
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		YES
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		YES
Y
48-1
Y
33-1
Y
15-0
Do Concur /
SB 458: Define sex in Montana law		NO
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		YES
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		YES
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 2,599 Senate floor votes in 2023 involving bills.
🥇 93%
of votes cast on winning side
Average for Senate Republicans is 91%.
🔴 90%
of votes cast on side taken by most Republicans
Average for Senate Republicans is 92%.
🔵 74%
of votes cast on side taken by most Democrats
Average for Senate Republicans is 56%.
Small has been marked absent or excused for 11 votes. Average for Senate lawmakers is 6.8.

SD 21 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) JASON D SMALL(R) 58%(D) 42%
Won by 16% (1,086 votes)

Party primary vote, 2020

(R) JASON D SMALL(R) 100%
Ran unopposed

Governor vote in district, 2020

(D) COONEY(D) 48%(R) 48%
Won by 0% (18 votes)

Montana Free Press coverage

MTFP legislative reporting involving Small.
📰 Energy
How the 68th Legislature shaped Montana’s energy policy
May 8, 2023 • Amanda Eggert
📰 Environment
Bill banning greenhouse gas analysis from permitting decisions heads to governor
Apr 28, 2023 • Amanda Eggert
📰 Education
OPI and lawmakers eye changes to career education
Apr 13, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
Proposals to amend Constitution struggle to garner needed support
Apr 5, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 Environment
The Montana Legislature v. local climate action
Mar 24, 2023 • Amanda Eggert
📰 2023 Legislature
Legislature’s Indigenous caucus works to keep Native issues at forefront
Mar 15, 2023 • JoVonne Wagner
📰 Environment
How environmental policy proposals are faring at the Legislature’s halfway mark
Mar 9, 2023 • Amanda Eggert
📰 Environment
Legislature weighs bill to exempt some small subdivisions from MEPA review
Feb 9, 2023 • Amanda Eggert

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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