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. Scot Kerns, HD 23

Rep. Scot Kerns

Second-session Republican from Great Falls

Representing House District 23
South side of Great Falls

Kerns previously served in the Montana House in 2021.

Committee assignments

Bills sponsored

πŸ“‹ HJ 16: Interim study on traffic incidents involving bicycles and motor vehicles
Scot Kerns (R)πŸ“ƒ Bill text
βœ…1st Cmte.
✴️House
βšͺ️Senate
πŸ“‹ HJ 22: Interim study of accessory dwelling units
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
✴️Senate
πŸ“‹ HB 63: Generally revise liability laws related to armed forces and national guard
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Reconcil.
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 219: Exempt certain military pensions and survivor benefits from income taxes
βœ…1st Cmte.
✴️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 223: Expanding the disabled veteran property tax assistance program
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
❌Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 246: Allow for the zoning of tiny dwelling units
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 272: Revise alcohol laws relating to contrived events and employees of licensees
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
❌Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 273: Generally revise laws relating to the director of the state lottery
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 274: Revise civil air patrol funding
βœ…1st Cmte.
βœ…House
βœ…Senate
βœ…Reconcil.
βœ…Gov.
πŸ“‹ HB 275: Provide for board of veteran affairs townhall meetings
❌1st Cmte.
βšͺ️House
βšͺ️Senate
βšͺ️Gov.
Showing 10 of 23.
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Key bill votes

Most recent floor votes on bills identified as notable by MTFP staff.
Motion / BillKerns (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
NO
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
NO
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
YES
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
YES
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
NO
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
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
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
YES
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
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
NO
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
YES
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
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
YES
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₯‡ 93%
of votes cast on winning side
Average for House Republicans is 90%.
πŸ”΄ 96%
of votes cast on side taken by most Republicans
Average for House Republicans is 91%.
πŸ”΅ 68%
of votes cast on side taken by most Democrats
Average for House Republicans is 71%.
Kerns has been marked absent or excused for 5 votes. Average for House lawmakers is 21.1.

HD 23 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) SCOT KERNS(R) 55%(D) 45%
Won by 9% (266 votes)

Party primary vote, 2022

(R) SCOT KERNS(R) 100%
Ran unopposed

Governor vote in district, 2020

(R) GIANFORTE(R) 49%(D) 47%
Won by 2% (80 votes)

Montana Free Press coverage

MTFP legislative reporting involving Kerns.
πŸ“° 2023 Legislature
Great Falls lawmaker brings DUI expungement legislation after his own 2022 conviction
Apr 7, 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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