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
📑 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)
Rep. Sue Vinton, HD 56

Rep. Sue Vinton

Fourth-session Republican from Billings
Republican House Majority Leader
Representing House District 56
Southeast of Billings
(406) 855-2625 • Sue.Vinton@legmt.gov
Committees •Bills •Key votes •Voting stats •2022 election margin •MTFP Coverage

Vinton previously served in the Montana House in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Committee assignments

House State Administration
House Natural Resources
House Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Bills sponsored

📋 HJ 10: Resolution for reaffirming Montana's commitment to its relationship with Taiwan
Sue Vinton (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
📋 HB 114: Revise timelines for water right permit and change process
Sue Vinton (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Gov.
📋 HB 245: Revise tax credit for trades education and training
Sue Vinton (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note📰 1 MTFP story
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Reconcil.
✅Gov.
📋 HB 247: Revise laws relating to exemptions to the practice of real estate
Sue Vinton (R)📃 Bill text
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Reconcil.
✅Gov.
📋 HB 294: Increase aggregate limit for student scholarship and innovative education credit
Sue Vinton (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note
❌1st Cmte.
⚪️House
⚪️Senate
⚪️Gov.
📋 HB 393: Establish the Students with Special Needs Equal Opportunity Act
Sue Vinton (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note🏛 Legal note📰 4 MTFP stories
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Gov.
📋 HB 408: Revise student scholarship organization and innovative education tax credits
Sue Vinton (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note📰 4 MTFP stories
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Reconcil.
✅Gov.
📋 HB 562: Authorize establishment of community choice schools
Sue Vinton (R)📃 Bill text💵 Fiscal note🏛 Legal note📰 8 MTFP stories
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✅Senate
✅Gov.
Showing 8 of 8
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Key bill votes

Most recent floor votes on bills identified as notable by MTFP staff.
Motion / BillVinton (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		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		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		NO
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		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		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		NO
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		Absent
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		Absent
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		NO
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		NO
Y
56-43
Y
39-29
Y
17-14
Do Concur /
SB 490: Generally revising the legislature's investigative powers		Absent
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.
🥇 92%
of votes cast on winning side
Average for House Republicans is 90%.
🔴 94%
of votes cast on side taken by most Republicans
Average for House Republicans is 91%.
🔵 68%
of votes cast on side taken by most Democrats
Average for House Republicans is 71%.
Vinton has been marked absent or excused for 25 votes. Average for House lawmakers is 21.1.

HD 56 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) SUE VINTON(R) 100%
Ran unopposed

Party primary vote, 2022

(R) SUE VINTON(R) 100%
Ran unopposed

Governor vote in district, 2020

(R) GIANFORTE(R) 65%(D) 30%
Won by 35% (1,863 votes)

Montana Free Press coverage

MTFP legislative reporting involving Vinton.
📰 Education
Legal challenge launched against charter school law, alleging violation of state Constitution
Jun 20, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 Education
Montana teachers, parents and education advocates challenge constitutionality of charter school bill
Jun 14, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 Education
Gianforte signs dueling charter school bills
May 19, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
68th Montana Legislature adjourns
May 2, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 2023 Legislature
Zephyr, constituents, challenge House disciplinary action in court 
May 1, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 Education
Senate votes down dueling charter school bills
Apr 26, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
Tension builds in transgender policy debate
Apr 21, 2023 •
📰 2023 Legislature
Ban of medical care for transgender minors clears legislative hurdle
Apr 19, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 Education
OPI and lawmakers eye changes to career education
Apr 13, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 Education
School choice gaining legislative traction after years of debate
Apr 11, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
What’s on the table as lawmakers negotiate major spending proposals
Apr 10, 2023 • Eric Dietrich
📰 Education
Education policy at the Legislature’s half-way mark
Mar 7, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 Education
House advances dueling charter school bills
Mar 2, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
Drag ban bill for public places, schools and libraries moves through Legislature
Feb 23, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 Education
Legislature revisits education tax credit debate
Feb 23, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
Lawmakers debate free speech, respect for transgender students
Feb 15, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
For Montana Legislature, the biennial work begins
Jan 2, 2023 • 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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