Montana State Senate

Montana State Senate
General Information
Party control:	Republican
Session start:	No regular legislative session
Session end:	No regular legislative session
Term length:	4 years
Term limits:	2 terms (8 years)
Redistricting:	Commission
Salary:	$104.86/legislative day + per diem
Members
Total:	50
Democrats:	16
Republicans:	34
Other:	0
Vacancies:	0
Leadership
President:	Jason Ellsworth (R)
Maj. Leader:	Steve Fitzpatrick (R)
Min. Leader:	Pat Flowers (D)
Elections
Last election:	November 8, 2022
Next election:	November 5, 2024

The Montana State Senate is the upper chamber of the Montana State Legislature. Alongside the Montana House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Montana state government and works alongside the governor of Montana to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Montana State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Montana State Senate meets in the state capitol building in Helena, Montana.

Montana enacted new legislative district boundaries after the 2020 census on February 22, 2023, when the Montana Districting & Apportionment Commission (MDAC) submitted its final plan to the secretary of state. The commission had voted 3-2 to approve the final plan on February 11, 2023. The two Democratic-appointed commissioners and the commission's chairperson—that the state supreme court appointed—voted to approve the plan. The two Republican-appointed commissioners voted against it. These districts will take effect for the 2024 elections. Click here for more information about redistricting after the 2020 census.

Twenty-five of the state Senate's 50 seats were up for election in 2024.

Twenty-five of the state Senate's 50 seats were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Republican majority increased from 31-19 to 34-16.

Montana has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

This page contains the following information on the Montana State Senate.

• Which party controls the chamber
• The chamber's current membership
• Partisan control of the chamber over time
• Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
• A district map
• How redistricting works in the state
• Legislation currently under consideration
• Legislative session dates
• Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
• A list of committees

Party control

Current partisan control

The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Montana State Senate as of November 2024:

Party		As of November 2024
	Democratic Party	16
	Republican Party	34
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		50

Members

Leadership

At the beginning of each regular legislative session the Senate elects the president and president pro tempore. It then chooses its other officers.^[1][2]

Leadership and members

• Senate president: Jason Ellsworth (R)
• President Pro Tem: Kenneth Bogner (R)
• Majority leader: Steve Fitzpatrick (R)
• Minority leader: Pat Flowers (D)

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024[3]
Salary	Per diem
$104.86/legislative day	$171/day

Swearing in dates

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Montana legislators assume office the first Monday of January following the election. If January 1 is a Monday, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday.^[4][5][6]

Membership qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

According to Part V, Section 4, of the Montana Constitution, in order to be eligible to serve in the Montana State Senate, a candidate must be:^[7]

"A candidate for the legislature shall be a resident of the state for at least one year next preceding the general election. For six months next preceding the general election, he shall be a resident of the county if it contains one or more districts or of the district if it contains all or parts of more than one county."

Historical party control

Republicans won control of the Montana State Senate in 2008. In 2022, they won a 34-16 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Montana Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Montana State Senate election results: 1992-2022

Year	'92	'94	'96	'98	'00	'02	'04	'06	'08	'10	'12	'14	'16	'18	'20	'22
Democrats	30	19	16	18	19	21	27	26	23	22	23	21	18	20	19	16
Republicans	20	31	34	32	31	29	23	24	27	28	27	29	32	30	31	34

Trifecta history

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Montana was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: None
• Republican trifecta: 1995-2004, 2021-2023
• Divided government: 1992-1994, 2005-2020

Montana Party Control: 1992-2024
No Democratic trifectas  •  Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R
Senate	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	S	S	R	R	S	S	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

Elections

Elections by year

Montana state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Montana holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the Montana State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2024

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was June 4, 2024. The filing deadline was March 11, 2024.

2022

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 14, 2022.

In the 2022 election, Republicans increased their majority in the Montana State Senate from 31-19 to 34-16.

Montana State Senate
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	19	16
	Republican Party	31	34
Total		50	50

2020

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Montana State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was March 9, 2020.

In the 2020 election, Republicans increased their majority in the Montana State Senate from 30-20 to 31-19.

Montana State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	20	19
	Republican Party	30	31
Total		50	50

2018

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary took place on June 5, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 12, 2018.^[8]

In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Montana State Senate was reduced from 32-18 to 30-20.

Montana State Senate
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	18	20
	Republican Party	32	30
Total		50	50

2016

See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 14, 2016. A total of 25 seats out of the 50 seats in the Montana State Senate were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 29-20 majority with one vacancy. Republicans gained three seats in the election, giving them a 32-18 majority.

Montana State Senate
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	20	18
	Republican Party	29	32
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		50	50

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

2014 See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2014 Elections for the Montana State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for major party candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10, 2014; minor party and independent candidates had until June 2, 2014, to file. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 29-21 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election. Montana State Senate Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014      Democratic Party 21 21      Republican Party 29 29 Total 50 50 2012 See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2012 Elections for the office of Montana State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 12, 2012. A total of 25 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 27-22 majority with one vacancy. After the election, Republicans held a 27-23 majority. Montana State Senate Party As of November 5, 2012 After the 2012 Election      Democratic Party 22 23      Republican Party 27 27      Vacancy 1 0 Total 50 50 The table below details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election in 2012. 2012 Margin of Victory, Montana State Senate District Winner Margin of Victory Total Votes Top Opponent District 10 Brad Hamlett 2.1% 7,985 Wendy McKamey District 27 Elsie Arntzen 2.8% 6,639 Gary Branae District 24 Roger Webb 3.1% 9,015 Wanda Grinde District 17 Greg Jergeson 6% 7,214 Don Richman District 2 Dee Brown 6.7% 9,796 David Fern District 6 Janna Taylor 14.1% 9,780 Nancy Lindsey District 43 Gene Vuckovich 15.1% 7,536 Jonathan Arnold District 26 Robyn Driscoll 17.3% 6,271 Malcolm Long District 37 Jon Sesso 19% 9,108 Daniel O'Neill District 46 Sue Malek 19.7% 9,914 Kevin Blackler During the 2012 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $907,978. The top 10 contributors were:[9] 2012 Donors, Montana State Senate Donor Amount Webb, Roger $34,185 Roberts, Rollan II $32,626 Taylor, Janna $26,160 Stuart, Douglas $20,408 Mowbray, Carmine $8,256 Arnold, Jonathan L. $7,241 Long, Malcolm D. (Mack) $5,412 Mowbray, Carmine M. $4,816 Gernant, Tyler $4,640 Yellowstone County Democratic Central Committee $3,900 2010 See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2010 Elections for the office of Montana State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2010. A total of 26 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 27-22 majority with one vacancy. Republicans gained one seat in the election, giving them a 28-22 majority. Montana State Senate Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election      Democratic Party 22 22      Republican Party 27 28      Vacancy 1 - Total 50 50 During the 2010 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $993,331. The top 10 donors were:[10] 2010 Donors, Montana State Senate Donor Amount Noennig, Mark $20,000 Gallik, Dave $19,317 Priest, Jason S $17,873 Facey, Thomas $16,800 Comstock, Michael B $9,416 Samson, Bruce $7,245 Cohenour, Jill $6,439 Arthun, Ron $4,534 Page, Julia L $3,720 Henry, Teresa K $3,468 2008 See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2008 Elections for the office of Montana State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. Twenty-five seats were up for election. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $744,742. The top 10 contributors were:[11] 2008 Donors, Montana State Senate Donor Amount Zinke, Ryan K. $15,491 Windy Boy, Jonathan $6,986 Brenden, John C. $6,240 Hartelius, Channing J. $6,171 Brown, Taylor $5,700 Sands, Jack E. $5,500 Brooks, Suzanne $4,911 Jordan, Gilbert $4,125 ActBlue Montana $3,512 Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee $3,300 2006 See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2006 Elections for the office of Montana State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. Twenty-five seats were up for election. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $687,206. The top 10 contributors were:[12] 2006 Donors, Montana State Senate Donor Amount Essmann, Jeff $24,260 Noennig, Mark E. $20,000 Wittich, Art $11,500 Smith, Ric $6,500 Loranger, Donald E. $5,870 Woerner, Dr. Don $5,423 Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee $3,750 Murphy, Terry $3,205 McDonald, Clay Scott $3,148 Murphy, Terry $3,000 2004 See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2004 Elections for the office of Montana State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. Twenty-five seats were up for election. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $600,450. The top 10 contributors were:[13] 2004 Donors, Montana State Senate Donor Amount Weinberg, Dan $36,538 Lind, Greg H. $18,122 Harmon, Dean $16,550 Larsen, Cliff $9,730 O'Neil, Jerry $8,730 Haines, Dick $4,890 Cyr, Larry Jr. $4,750 Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee $3,800 Navratil, Gerald J. $3,475 Ryan, Don $2,867 2002 See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2002 Elections for the office of Montana State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2002, and a general election on November 7, 2002. Twenty-five seats were up for election. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $521,540. The top 10 contributors were:[14] 2002 Donors, Montana State Senate Donor Amount Fox, Mary Jo $52,654 Perry, Gary L. $25,515 Gibson, Harriet (Hattie) $13,200 Anderson, Sherm $12,000 Nordtvedt, Ken $7,303 Hansen, Ken $7,000 Lee, Katherine $4,427 Sadler, James $4,000 Solomon, Ted $3,115 Kleinjan, Art $3,000 2000 See also: Montana State Senate elections, 2000 Elections for the office of Montana State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. Twenty-six seats were up for election. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $395,126. The top 10 contributors were:[15] 2000 Donors, Montana State Senate Donor Amount Kitzenberg, Sam $14,100 Butcher, Edward B. $10,800 Cobb, John $8,531 Glaser, William E. $7,474 Hanson, Harold $6,500 Stapleton, Corey $4,435 Montana Education Association Montana Federation Of Teachers $3,800 Stroebe, Teresa $3,440 O'Neil, Jerry $3,255 Sweet, Cal $2,793

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Montana legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Montana Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Montana senators cannot serve more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years in any 16-year period.^[16]

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.^[17]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Montana State Legislature, the board of county commissioners of the county that comprises the legislative district of the vacant seat must select a replacement. The secretary of state must notify the board of county commissioners and the state party that holds the vacant seat no later than seven days after being informed of the vacancy. The county central committee has 45 days after receiving notice from the secretary of state to provide a list of candidates to the board of county commissioners. The board must select a replacement no later than 15 days after receiving the list of candidates. If the legislature is in session, the selection must be made no later than five days after receiving a candidate list.^[18] Any person selected to fill a House seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term. Any person selected to fill a Senate seat serves until the next scheduled general election.^[19]

See sources: Montana Const. Art. 5, Sec 7 and Montana Code Ann. §5-2-402

District map

See also: Montana state legislative districts

The state of Montana has 150 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative. The state Senate has 50 districts and the state House has 100 districts.

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Montana

Montana uses a non-politician commission for congressional and state legislative redistricting. This commission comprises five members. The majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the state legislature select one member a piece. These four members then select a fifth to serve as the commission's chair. If the first four commissioners are unable to agree on an appointment, the Montana Supreme Court may select the fifth member.^[20]

The Montana Constitution requires that no commissioner be a public official. State statutes require that two of the first four commissioners "must be selected from certain counties (roughly, in the Montana Rockies to the west) and two must be selected from the rest of the state (to the east)."^[20]

The state's Districting and Apportionment Commission must complete congressional redistricting within 90 days of receiving federal census data. It must prepare a legislative redistricting plan "by the 10th legislative day of the first regular session after the federal census results are available. The Legislature then has 30 days to make recommendations to the commission. Within 30 days of receiving the Legislature's recommendations, the commission must file the redistricting plan with the Secretary of State, and it becomes law. Although the commission may modify the plan to accommodate the Legislature's recommendations, it is not required to do so."^[21]

The state constitution requires that districts be both contiguous and compact.^[20]

“	The ... commission has stated that it may gauge compactness by looking to a district's general appearance, and the degree to which it fosters "functional compactness" through "travel and transportation, communication, and geography." The commission has similarly determined that it will, in drawing legislative districts, consider the boundary lines of political subdivisions (counties, cities, towns, school districts, Indian reservations, neighborhood commissions, and others); follow geographic boundaries; and consider keeping intact communities of interest (based on "Indian reservations, urban[, suburban, or rural] interests, . . . neighborhoods, trade areas, geographic location, communication and transportation networks, media markets, social, cultural and economic interests, or occupations and lifestyles").[22]	”
—All About Redistricting

2020

See also: Redistricting in Montana after the 2020 census

Montana enacted new legislative district boundaries after the 2020 census on February 22, 2023, when the Montana Districting & Apportionment Commission (MDAC) submitted its final plan to the secretary of state. The commission had voted 3-2 to approve the final plan on February 11, 2023. The two Democratic-appointed commissioners and the commission's chairperson—that the state supreme court appointed—voted to approve the plan. The two Republican-appointed commissioners voted against it. These districts will take effect for the 2024 elections.

The MDAC voted 3-2 to submit its final legislative district boundary proposal to the legislature on December 21, 2022. The commission's nonpartisan chairperson, Maylinn Smith, and two Democratic-appointed commissioners voted to approve the map, and the two Republican-appointed commissioners voted against it.^[23] The legislature provided recommendations on the plan via a joint House-Senate resolution on February 2, 2023. The MDAC incorporated some, but not all, of the legislature's proposed amendments into the final plan.

Montana was the last state to enact legislative redistricting plans after the 2020 census. The state constitution requires that the redistricting commission submit legislative maps to the legislature so they can provide non-binding recommendations before they are enacted. Montana's legislature only meets in odd-numbered years and adjourned in April 2021, before U.S. Census data was delivered to the states on August 12, 2021.^[24]

Shaylee Ragar of Montana Public Radio wrote that "According to data compiled by Democrats on the commission, the map could give Republicans a 20-seat advantage in the House and an 8-seat advantage in the Senate. It projects Democrats picking up a few seats currently held by Republicans."^[25] Arren Kimbel-Sannit wrote in the Montana Free Press that, "In sum, the new maps could cost Republicans several seats while still leaving them a sizable majority that at least suggests the GOP’s dominance in recent elections."^[26]

District map after 2020 redistricting

This map took effect for Montana’s 2024 legislative elections.

2010

See also: Redistricting in Montana after the 2010 census

Following the 2010 United States Census, Montana did not add to its single congressional district, making congressional redistricting unnecessary. On August 17, 2012, the independent redistricting commission released a tentative state legislative district proposal. The commission submitted its final recommendations to the state legislature on January 8, 2013. After considering responses from the legislature, the commission produced its final redistricting plan on February 12, 2013.^[20] The maps would not go into effect until the 2014 elections. The 2012 election were run using the maps drawn after the 2000 Census. ^[27]

Sessions

Legislation

The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Montana State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

Dates of legislative sessions in Montana by year

2024

See also: Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

In 2024, the legislature will not hold a regular session.

2023

See also: 2023 Montana legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 2, 2023, and adjourn on May 2, 2023.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2022 See also: Dates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2021 See also: 2021 Montana legislative session and Dates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2021, and adjourn on April 29, 2021. 2020 See also: Dates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2019 See also: 2019 Montana legislative session and Dates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 7, 2019, through April 25, 2019. 2018 See also: Dates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2017 See also: Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2017, through April 28, 2017. A special session to address the projected $227 million budget shortfall began on November 14. It ended on November 16. 2016 See also: Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2015 See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 5 through April 28. Major issues in 2015 Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included Medicaid expansion, funding for preschool programs, infrastructure, charter schools, and the Flathead Water Rights Compact.[28] Campaign finance regulation Read full text of SB 289 here On April 22, 2015, Gov. Steve Bullock (D) signed new campaign finance regulations requiring previously-anonymous groups to report campaign contributions in state elections. SB 289 requires disclosure from any group spending money on "electioneering communications" or contributing to candidates starting with the statewide election in 2016. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Duane Ankney (R), passed the state House 51-48 and went to the governor's desk after a 30-20 vote in the state Senate. Eight Republican senators and 10 Republican members of the state House joined their Democratic colleagues to approve SB 289.[29][30] Ankney and state Sen. Frank Garner (R) joined Bullock during the bill signing on April 22. Garner was a vocal advocate for campaign finance regulation due to a run-in in early 2015 with Americans for Prosperity-Montana (AFP). The group sent postcards mobilizing residents of Garner's district to attend a town meeting following the legislator's refusal to sign an AFP pledge opposing Medicaid expansion. Ankney and Garner rallied Republican votes in the state Senate by highlighting the benefits of campaigning on regulating money from anonymous groups.[30] Bullock made the following statement about SB 289 during the signing ceremony: “ Montana is now back to having legitimate elections instead of the auctions we — for a brief time — held every two years...And we are on our way back to having elected officials that are finally accountable to the citizens they represent instead of some special interest and their bundles of dark money. Beginning in the next election for state races, Montanans will be able to accurately judge and understand the political attacks that have become so common in our elections, and they’ll have the opportunity to see who is funding the attacks. [22] ” —The Montana Standard, (2015)[30] The Montana Republican Party criticized Bullock for hypocrisy due to his role on the National Governors Association. A statement released by the party concluded, "Bullock only believes in transparency as long as he doesn’t have to tell Montanans where all his undisclosed, unlimited corporate cash is coming from."[30] 2014 See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2013 See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 7 to April 27. Major issues in 2013 Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included economic development, increased natural resource development, and reforms to how the state funds education.[31] 2012 See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2011 In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 3 through April 28.[32] 2010 In 2010, the legislature did not hold a regular session. 2009 In 2009, the legislature was in session from January 5 through April 25.

About legislative sessions in Montana

The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.^[33] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Article V of the Montana Constitution establishes when the Montana State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 6 of Article V states that the Legislature is to meet in every odd-numbered year in a regular session of at most ninety legislative days. However, Section 6 allows any Legislature to increase the limit on the length of any subsequent session. Section 6 also allows for the Legislature to meet in special session when convened by the Governor of Montana or when a special session is requested by a majority of the Legislature's members.

Legislative roles and procedures

Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, term limits, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

Veto overrides

See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Montana are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 67 of the 100 members in the Montana House of Representatives and 34 of the 50 members in the Montana State Senate. Montana is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

According to Article VI, Section 10 of the Montana Constitution, if the governor vetoes a bill that had the support of at least two-thirds of members after adjournment, the secretary of state sends a notification by mail to legislators with instructions on how to override the veto. Members have 30 days to respond.

Authority: Article VI, Section 10 of the Montana Constitution.

"(2) The governor may return any bill to the legislature with his recommendation for amendment. If the legislature passes the bill in accordance with the governor's recommendation, it shall again return the bill to the governor for his reconsideration. The governor shall not return a bill for amendment a second time. (3) If after receipt of a veto message, two-thirds of the members of each house present approve the bill, it shall become law."

Role in state budget

See also: Montana state budget and finances

Montana on

Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[34]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in April and August.
2. Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in June and September.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature by November 15. Governors-elect submit budget proposals by January 7.
4. The legislature typically adopts a budget in April. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The biennium begins July 1.

Montana is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.^[34][35]

The governor is statutorily required to submit a balanced budget proposal. The legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.^[34]

Committees

See also: List of committees in Montana state government

Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

• Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
• Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
• Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Montana State Senate has 17 standing committees:

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Montana Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article XIV, Montana Constitution and Laws governing the initiative process in Montana

Montana Constitution
Preamble
Articles
I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV • Schedule

The Montana Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Montana requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Initiative

See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Montana, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Montana also has a distribution requirement that requires proponents to collect signatures equal to 10% of the qualified electors in each of two-fifths (40) of the state's 100 legislative districts. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Legislature

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required of all members of the legislature during one legislative session for the Montana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Since Montana has 150 legislators (100 Representatives and 50 Senators), at least 100 members must vote in favor of a constitutional amendment for it to pass. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According to Section 3, Article XIV of the Montana Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, if it has not otherwise appeared on the ballot in the last 20 years. Montana is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.

The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:

State	Interval	Last question on the ballot	Next question on the ballot
Montana	20 years	2010	2030

The Montana State Legislature is also authorized to submit a constitutional convention question to voters via a two-thirds (66.67%) vote of both chambers. Citizens may also initiate a constitutional convention question. The number of signatures required to place the question on the ballot is equal to 10% of the qualified electors of the state, including at least 10 percent of the qualified electors in each of two-fifths of the legislative districts. Any amendments proposed by a convention must be ratified by the voters.

2025 measures:

See also: 2025 ballot measures

Certified:

The following measures were certified for the ballot.

No measures to list

2024 measures:

Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature.

See also: Montana 2024 ballot measures

Certified:

The following measures were certified for the ballot.

No measures to list

See also

Elections	Montana State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
Montana State Senate elections, 2024 Montana State Senate elections, 2022 Montana State Senate elections, 2020 Montana State Senate elections, 2018	Montana State Legislature Montana House of Representatives Governor of Montana Montana Supreme Court	State legislative elections: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links

• Montana State Legislature
• Montana State Senate
• Montana House of Representatives

Footnotes

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