2023 Capitol Tracker

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

A digital guide by | Support this work
Last update: 10:36 PM May 10, 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)
Rep. Melissa Romano, HD 81

Rep. Melissa Romano

First-session Democrat from Helena

Representing House District 81
Central Helena, Helena Valley

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

Committee assignments

Bills sponsored

πŸ“‹ HR 5: Resolution honoring Chuck Johnson
Melissa Romano (D)πŸ“ƒ Bill text
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
πŸ“‹ HB 445: Establish mentoring program for new teachers
βœ…1st Cmte.
✴️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 514: Increase the inflationary adjustment cap related to school funding
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 623: Establish penalties for negligent injury or death of service animals
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 831: Fund school meals for all students
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 832: Provide tax credit for early childhood workforce
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 863: Fund school meals for all students
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 875: Establishing the school mental health promotion pilot program
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
Showing 8 of 8
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Key bill votes

Most recent floor votes on bills identified as notable by MTFP staff.
Motion / BillRomano (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
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
NO
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
NO
Y
70-29
Y
68-0
N
2-29
Do Concur /
HB 196: Revise election laws related to the counting of votes
NO
Y
71-28
Y
68-0
N
3-28
Do Pass /
HB 212: Increase business equipment tax exemption
NO
Y
67-32
Y
67-1
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 222: Provide rebates of property taxes paid on a principal residence
NO
Y
69-30
Y
68-0
N
1-30
Do Concur /
HB 234: Revise dissemination of obscene material to minors laws
NO
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
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
NO
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
NO
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
NO
Y
65-35
Y
65-3
N
0-32
Do Pass /
HB 372: Establish right to hunt in Constitution
NO
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
NO
Y
87-8
Y
65-1
Y
22-7
Do Concur /
HB 479: Provide appropriation for DOJ to assume law enforcement PL-280
NO
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
NO
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
NO
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
NO
Y
58-33
Y
44-18
N
14-15
Do Concur /
HB 551: Implement constitutional carry into the Montana Constitution
NO
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
NO
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
NO
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
NO
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
NO
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
NO
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
NO
Y
69-29
Y
66-2
N
3-27
Do Concur /
HB 816: Revise distribution of surplus revenue
NO
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
NO
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
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
NO
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
YES
Y
67-32
Y
36-32
Y
31-0
Do Pass /
HB 968: Revise abortion laws concerning parental consultation
NO
Y
67-31
Y
67-0
N
0-31
Do Pass /
HB 971: Revise environmental policy act
NO
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
NO
Y
65-33
Y
65-2
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 109: Revise laws related to redistricting the PSC
NO
Y
65-32
Y
65-1
N
0-31
Do Concur /
SB 121: Reduce top marginal income tax rate and increase EITC
NO
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
YES
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
YES
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
NO
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
YES
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
NO
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
NO
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
NO
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 2,698 House floor votes in 2023 involving bills.
πŸ₯‡ 72%
of votes cast on winning side
Average for House Democrats is 75%.
πŸ”΄ 67%
of votes cast on side taken by most Republicans
Average for House Democrats is 71%.
πŸ”΅ 97%
of votes cast on side taken by most Democrats
Average for House Democrats is 94%.
Romano has been marked absent or excused for 0 votes. Average for House lawmakers is 21.1.

HD 81 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) MELISSA ROMANO(D) 58%(R) 42%
Won by 16% (772 votes)

Party primary vote, 2022

(D) MELISSA ROMANO(D) 66%(D) 19%(D) 16%
Won by 47% (795 votes)

Governor vote in district, 2020

(D) COONEY(D) 55%(R) 41%
Won by 15% (938 votes)

Montana Free Press coverage

MTFP legislative reporting involving Romano.
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
What’s on the table as lawmakers negotiate major spending proposals
Apr 10, 2023 β€’ Eric Dietrich
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Lawmakers take up mental health services for students
Apr 3, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° Education
Education policy at the Legislature’s half-way mark
Mar 7, 2023 β€’ Alex Sakariassen
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Lawmakers eye deep changes to K-12 education
Feb 21, 2023 β€’ 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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