2023 Capitol Tracker

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

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Last update: 12:46 AM Aug 29, 2023
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)
Rep. Marvin Weatherwax, HD 15

Rep. Marvin Weatherwax

Third-session Democrat from Browning

Representing House District 15
Browning, Heart Butte

Weatherwax previously served in the Montana House in 2019 and 2021.

Committee assignments

Bills sponsored

πŸ“‹ HB 585: Creating a memorial honoring organ donors on the capitol complex
Marvin Weatherwax (D)πŸ“ƒ Bill text
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 779: Revise FWP commission powers to regulate wolf harvesting near national parks
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
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Key bill votes

Most recent floor votes on bills identified as notable by MTFP staff.
Motion / BillWeatherwax (D)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
Excused
Y
68-28
Y
38-28
Y
30-0
Do Pass /
HB 13: State Employee Pay Plan and revising laws governing state employees
Excused
Y
89-7
Y
59-7
Y
30-0
Do Adopt /
HB 16: Revise laws relating to child abuse and neglect proceedings
Excused
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
Absent
Y
70-29
Y
68-0
N
2-29
Do Concur /
HB 196: Revise election laws related to the counting of votes
Excused
Y
71-28
Y
68-0
N
3-28
Do Pass /
HB 212: Increase business equipment tax exemption
Absent
Y
67-32
Y
67-1
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 222: Provide rebates of property taxes paid on a principal residence
Absent
Y
69-30
Y
68-0
N
1-30
Do Concur /
HB 234: Revise dissemination of obscene material to minors laws
Excused
Y
66-33
Y
66-2
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 267: Create SAFER account for federal highway grants
Absent
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
YES
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
Absent
Y
63-33
Y
63-4
N
0-29
Do Adopt /
HB 317: Provide for the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act
Excused
Y
64-32
Y
35-31
Y
29-1
Do Pass /
HB 326: Revise laws relating to the appointment of the judicial standards commission
Absent
Y
66-32
Y
66-1
N
0-31
Do Concur /
HB 332: Generally revise laws related to school employee health benefits
Excused
Y
71-25
Y
41-25
Y
30-0
Do Adopt /
HB 338: Revise laws related to Indian Education for All
Excused
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
NO
Y
65-35
Y
65-3
N
0-32
Do Pass /
HB 372: Establish right to hunt in Constitution
Excused
Y
64-34
Y
64-4
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 419: Allow bonding for injunctions that prevent hunting or harvesting of game
NO
Y
65-33
Y
65-1
N
0-32
Do Concur /
HB 423: Revise laws related to compensation for wrongfully convicted individuals
Excused
Y
87-8
Y
65-1
Y
22-7
Do Concur /
HB 479: Provide appropriation for DOJ to assume law enforcement PL-280
Excused
Y
64-28
Y
62-2
N
2-26
Do Pass /
HB 517: Constitutional amendment regarding board of regents
Excused
Y
61-37
Y
61-7
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 518: Authorize standing for legislature to bring lawsuit
Excused
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
Excused
Y
66-32
Y
66-2
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 546: Authorize additional funding for coal trust loan program for housing
Excused
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
Excused
Y
62-34
Y
62-4
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 562: Authorize establishment of community choice schools
NO
Y
59-33
Y
58-5
N
1-28
Do Concur /
HB 569: Generally revise pension laws
Excused
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
Excused
Y
67-30
Y
67-0
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 648: Provide for the best beginnings scholarship program
Excused
Y
65-34
N
34-34
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 649: Implement rates from provider rate study
Excused
Y
78-21
Y
47-21
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 693: Clarify disclosure of public information that may be involved in litigation
Excused
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
Excused
Y
73-25
Y
67-0
N
6-25
Do Concur /
HB 707: Allow certain elementary districts to create new high school district
Excused
Y
99-0
Y
68-0
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 721: Restrict unborn child from dismemberment abortion
Excused
Y
67-31
Y
67-0
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 748: Allow zoning for separation of incompatible uses of property
Excused
Y
98-0
Y
67-0
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 774: Generally revise election laws
Excused
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
Excused
Y
69-29
Y
66-2
N
3-27
Do Concur /
HB 816: Revise distribution of surplus revenue
Excused
Y
69-27
Y
64-2
N
5-25
Do Concur /
HB 817: Provide for capital projects
Excused
Y
91-5
Y
64-2
Y
27-3
Do Concur /
HB 819: Create Montana community reinvestment act to fund workforce housing
Excused
Y
61-37
Y
41-27
Y
20-10
Do Pass /
HB 825: Provide funding to address affordable housing
NO
N
30-69
N
23-45
N
7-24
Do Concur /
HB 828: Authorize an ambulance provider assessment program
Excused
Y
86-11
Y
59-8
Y
27-3
Do Concur /
HB 856: Generally revise capitol complex administration laws
Excused
Y
95-1
Y
65-1
Y
30-0
Do Concur /
HB 872: Provide funding for behavioral health system for future generations
Excused
Y
56-40
Y
54-12
N
2-28
Do Concur /
HB 889: Revise the Residential Mobile Home Lot Rental Act
Excused
Y
68-31
Y
37-31
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 915: Constitutional amendment to change process to select supreme court justices
Excused
Y
59-39
Y
59-9
N
0-30
Do Pass /
HB 927: Authorize additional authority for coal trust housing loans
Excused
Y
67-32
Y
36-32
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 968: Revise abortion laws concerning parental consultation
Excused
Y
67-31
Y
67-0
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 971: Revise environmental policy act
Excused
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
Excused
Y
65-33
Y
65-2
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 109: Revise laws related to redistricting the PSC
Excused
Y
65-32
Y
65-1
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 121: Reduce top marginal income tax rate and increase EITC
Excused
Y
68-30
Y
68-0
N
0-30
Do Concur /
SB 154: Define the right to privacy to clarify no right to abortion
NO
Y
67-33
Y
67-1
N
0-32
Do Concur /
SB 191: Revise preliminary injunction laws
NO
Y
67-30
Y
67-0
N
0-30
Do Concur /
SB 201: Revise judicial recusal laws when parties made campaign contributions
NO
Y
68-32
Y
67-1
N
1-31
Do Adopt /
SB 245: Revise municipal zoning to allow multifamily and mixed use development
Excused
Y
87-8
Y
58-7
Y
29-1
Do Concur /
SB 275: Revise definition of proposed mixing zone & well isolation zone
NO
Y
60-40
Y
60-8
N
0-32
Do Concur /
SB 295: Revising laws to accommodate grizzly bear delisting
NO
Y
73-27
Y
67-1
N
6-26
Do Concur /
SB 296: Revise nursing home and/or assisted living funding
Excused
Y
91-8
Y
60-8
Y
31-0
Do Concur /
SB 301: Revise property laws related to lakeshore regulations
NO
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
Excused
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
Excused
Y
82-17
Y
51-17
Y
31-0
Do Concur /
SB 458: Define sex in Montana law
NO
Y
63-37
Y
62-6
N
1-31
Do Concur /
SB 481: Require cast vote records
Excused
Y
60-39
Y
60-8
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 485: Raising hourly rate of legislator compensation
Excused
Y
56-43
Y
39-29
Y
17-14
Do Concur /
SB 490: Generally revising the legislature's investigative powers
Excused
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
NO
Y
62-37
Y
62-6
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 534: Constitutional amendment on redistricting
Excused
N
65-34
N
65-3
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 557: Revise MEPA relating to litigation
NO
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.
πŸ₯‡ 73%
of votes cast on winning side
Average for House Democrats is 75%.
πŸ”΄ 69%
of votes cast on side taken by most Republicans
Average for House Democrats is 71%.
πŸ”΅ 91%
of votes cast on side taken by most Democrats
Average for House Democrats is 94%.
Weatherwax has been marked absent or excused for 743 votes. Average for House lawmakers is 21.1.

HD 15 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

(D) MARVIN R. WEATHERWAX JR(D) 51%(R) 49%
Won by 1% (26 votes)

Party primary vote, 2022

(D) MARVIN R. WEATHERWAX JR(D) 53%(D) 26%(D) 21%
Won by 27% (156 votes)

Governor vote in district, 2020

(D) COONEY(D) 57%(R) 37%
Won by 20% (792 votes)

Montana Free Press coverage

MTFP legislative reporting involving Weatherwax.
πŸ“° Environment
Committee votes on four wolf bills as legislative deadline nearsΒ 
Mar 1, 2023 β€’ 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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