2023 Capitol Tracker

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

A digital guide by
MTFP logo
| Support this work
Last update: 3:47 PM May 28, 2024
📑 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. Zooey Zephyr, HD 100

Rep. Zooey Zephyr

First-session Democrat from Missoula
Representing House District 100
Central Missoula
Zooey.Zephyr@legmt.gov
Committees •Bills •Key votes •Voting stats •2022 election margin •MTFP Coverage

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

Committee assignments

House Judiciary
House Human Services

Bills sponsored

📋 HB 552: Prohibit panic defense in criminal proceedings
Zooey Zephyr (D)📃 Bill text
❌1st Cmte.
⚪️House
⚪️Senate
⚪️Gov.
📋 HB 785: Revise landlord-tenant laws
Zooey Zephyr (D)📃 Bill text📰 1 MTFP story
✅1st Cmte.
✅House
✴️Senate
⚪️Gov.
Showing 2 of 2
Capitolized newsletter
Sign up for CAPITOLIZED
Expert reporting and insight from the Montana Capitol, emailed Tuesdays and Fridays.

Key bill votes

Most recent floor votes on bills identified as notable by MTFP staff.
Motion / BillZephyr (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		Excused
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		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		NO
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		Excused
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		NO
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		YES
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		Excused
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		NO
Y
91-9
Y
68-0
Y
23-9
Do Concur /
SB 499: Revise adverse possession laws relating to certain land and improvements		Absent
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.
🥇 66%
of votes cast on winning side
Average for House Democrats is 75%.
🔴 62%
of votes cast on side taken by most Republicans
Average for House Democrats is 71%.
🔵 89%
of votes cast on side taken by most Democrats
Average for House Democrats is 94%.
Zephyr has been marked absent or excused for 56 votes. Average for House lawmakers is 21.1.

HD 100 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) ZOOEY ZEPHYR(D) 79%(R) 17%
Won by 63% (3,200 votes)

Party primary vote, 2022

(D) ZOOEY ZEPHYR(D) 61%(D) 39%
Won by 23% (549 votes)

Governor vote in district, 2020

(D) COONEY(D) 81%(R) 16%
Won by 65% (4,393 votes)

Montana Free Press coverage

MTFP legislative reporting involving Zephyr.
📰 2023 Legislature
Helena judge dismisses Zephyr lawsuit 
Dec 1, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 Health Care
Bill defining ‘sex’ as binary becomes law
May 22, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
68th Montana Legislature adjourns
May 2, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 2023 Legislature
Judge denies motion to block enforcement of Zephyr punishment
May 2, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Zephyr, constituents, challenge House disciplinary action in court 
May 1, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 2023 Legislature
Gianforte signs gender-affirming care ban for transgender minors
Apr 28, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Committee cancellations leave Zephyr without a mic
Apr 27, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 2023 Legislature
House Republicans bar Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr for breaching decorum
Apr 26, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 2023 Legislature
House cancels Tuesday floor session as lawmakers discuss next steps for Zephyr 
Apr 25, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 2023 Legislature
Protests in support of transgender Montana lawmaker disrupt Legislature
Apr 24, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Tension builds in transgender policy debate
Apr 21, 2023 •
📰 2023 Legislature
House Speaker Matt Regier refuses to recognize Rep. Zooey Zephyr on floor until she apologizes
Apr 20, 2023 • Arren Kimbel-Sannit
📰 2023 Legislature
Ban of medical care for transgender minors clears legislative hurdle
Apr 19, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Gender-affirming care ban for transgender minors has second hearing
Mar 20, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Montana’s housing puzzle at the legislative halftime
Mar 8, 2023 • Eric Dietrich
📰 2023 Legislature
Bill creates strict definition for ‘sex,’ legally sidelining intersex and transgender people
Feb 28, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Drag ban bill for public places, schools and libraries moves through Legislature
Feb 23, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Lawmakers debate free speech, respect for transgender students
Feb 15, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
Bills concerning transgender youth and local control surface in House
Feb 8, 2023 • Alex Sakariassen
📰 2023 Legislature
Montana Republicans show support for medical conscience bill
Feb 6, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Committee debates medical ‘right of conscience’ bill
Jan 30, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 2023 Legislature
Lawmakers, advocates prepare to fight legislative ‘attacks’ against LGBTQ people
Jan 25, 2023 • Mara Silvers
📰 Politics
Lawmakers link up over bipartisan sausage
Jan 9, 2023 • Eric Dietrich

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.

Projects

About

Join

© 2024 Montana Free Press. Privacy PolicyMTFP logo