Overall Metrics

To date we’ve identified 82 key bills focused on the 3 core policy areas we are watching: Education, Property Rights, and Judicial Reform. Out of these bills, 59 are still alive at this point in the session, 54 have passed to the 2nd chamber, and 1 has already been signed by the governor.

Education

For this issue area, we have been tracking proposals to expand school choice options and also following bills related to the school funding formula and the formation of The School Funding Interim Commission. 

Status of Bills We’ve Endorsed:

School Choice

HB 320: Establish the Montana’s academic prosperity program for scholars act (MAPPS)
Sponsor: Rep Lee Deming (R) HD 54
Status: Dead. Failed on the House floor 45-55 on 3rd Reading
Note: As introduced, MAPPS would have been the first truly universal school choice option created in Montana guaranteed to be open to all students to pay for a wide variety of education-related expenditures. Our statement of support HERE.

HB 778: Generally revise laws related to homeschool
Sponsor: Rep. Randyn Gregg (R) HD 78
Status: Alive. Passed the House floor
Note: HB 778 builds on Montana’s strong existing home schooling laws to protect homeschool families from undue government intrusion. Our statement of support here.

SB 253: Revise administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations
Sponsor: Senator Sue Vinton (R) SD 20
Status: Alive. Passed first committee
Note: SB 253 is a sound policy change that will give us valuable insights into the demand for non-public education options in Montana, family education preferences, geographic trends and more.

School Funding

HB 156: Revise education funding laws by replacing school district BASE levies with countywide BASE levies
Sponsor: Rep. Dave Bedey (R) HD 86
Status: Alive. Passed House floor.
Note: HB 156 will make it easier for public education funding to “follow” the student as they transfer between districts in a county. This is consistent with our goals for broader public and private school choice.

HB 252: Create the student and teacher advancement for results and success act (STARS)
Sponsor: Rep. Llew Jones (R) HD 18
Status: Alive. Passed House Floor.
Note: HB 252 follows Frontier Institute’s recommendations to promote additional freedom and accountability for budget decisions within the public school system. Our statement of support here.

HB 483: Revise laws to reduce property taxes while preserving the current 95 school equalization mills
Sponsor: Rep. Courtenay Sprunger (R) HD 7
Status: Alive. Passed first committee
Note: HB 483 will simplify public education funding and make it easier for funding to “follow” the student as they transfer between districts. This is consistent with our goals for broader public and private school choice.

Status of Other Key Bills:

SB 215: Revise the definition of public school system and requirements of school funding formula
Sponsor: Senator Becky Beard (R) SD 38
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor.

HB 462: Encourage academic excellence through high-quality instructional materials
Sponsor: Rep. David Bedey (R) HD 86
Status: Alive. Passed First Committee

HB 606: Revise school district reorganization laws
Sponsor: Rep. Brad Barker (R) HD 55
Status: Alive. Passed House floor. 

HB 28: Clarify Timelines & Opening Procedures for Public Charter Schools
Sponsor: Rep. Dave Bedey
Status: Alive. Passed House floor.

HB 153: Revise laws related to the school funding interim commission
Sponsor: Rep. David Bedey (R) HD 86
Status: Alive. Passed House floor. 

HB 250: Generally revise education laws related to out-of-district attendance
Sponsor: Rep. Dave Bedey (R) HD 86
Status: Alive. Passed House floor. 

HB 251: Generally revise laws related to public charter schools
Sponsor: Rep. Dave Bedey (R) HD 86
Status: Alive. Passed House floor

SB 177: Allow community choice school commission to seek public funding
Sponsor: Senator Sue Vinton (R) SD 20
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor.

HB 507: Constitutional amendment for sales tax to fund K-12 education
Sponsor: Rep. Brad Barker (R) HD 55
Status: Dead. Withdrawn

Property Rights

For this issue area, we’ve been tracking legislation scaling back onerous local zoning and land use regulation, reforming environmental permitting, and securing property rights in new frontiers of tech. We’ve also been tracking key proposals for property tax relief related to the Governor’s Property Tax Task Force.

Status of Bills We’ve Endorsed:

Local Zoning and Land Use Regulations

SB 213: Revise the state building code to allow single stairwells in certain buildings
Sponsor: Senator Daniel Zolnikov (R) SD 22
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.
Note: We support this common sense reform to allow greater flexibility in building codes for residential buildings and reduce the cost of construction. 

HB 492: Revise municipal zoning laws related to parking requirements
Sponsor: Rep. Katie Zolnikov (R) HD 44
Status: Alive. Passed House floor
Note: HB 492 follows recommendations made in Frontier Institute’s 2023 Pro-Housing Platform to address harmful local zoning regulations which worsen Montana’s housing crisis.

SB 243: Amend zoning regulations to allow taller buildings
Sponsor: Senator Ellie Boldman (D) SD 47
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor
Note: SB 243 follows recommendations made in Frontier Institute’s 2023 Pro-Housing Platform to address harmful local zoning regulations which worsen Montana’s housing crisis.

SB 266: Revise municipal zoning to allow for triplex and fourplex housing
Sponsor: Senator Jeremy Trebas (R) SD 10
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor
Note: SB 266 follows recommendations made in Frontier Institute’s 2023 Pro-Housing Platform to address harmful local zoning regulations which worsen Montana’s housing crisis.

SB 418: Generally revise laws relating to home based businesses
Sponsor: Senator Ellie Boldman (D) SD 47
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor
Note: Follows Frontier Institute’s recommendation to limit the extent of local zoning and land use regulation in order to protect Montanans’ fundamental right to use property.

SB 214: Revise zoning laws to clarify decisions regarding prior nonconforming use of property
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hertz (R) SD 7
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor
Note: Follows Frontier Institute’s recommendation to limit the extent of local zoning and land use regulation in order to protect Montanans’ fundamental right to use property.

SB 146: Creating the private property protection act
Sponsor: Senator Becky Beard (R) SD 38
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate Floor 2nd Reading 24-26. 
Note: Follows Frontier Institute’s recommendation to limit the extent of local zoning and land use regulation in order to protect Montanans’ fundamental right to use property. Our statement of support here.

Energy and Environmental Permitting

HB 466: Provide categorical exclusions from MEPA
Sponsor: Rep. John Fitzpatrick (R) HD 76
Status: Alive. Passed House floor
Note: This bill will significantly streamline the environmental permit process for vital infrastructure and energy projects. Our statement of support here.

Technology and Innovation

SB 212: Creating the Right to Compute Act and requiring shutdowns of AI controlled critical infrastructure
Sponsor: Senator Daniel Zolnikov (R) SD 22
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor.
Note: SB 212 is a model bill that we developed enshrining a fundamental right to own and utilize computational technology (think AI or Data Centers) into Montana law and creating a framework to narrow any future regulation. Our statement of support here. 

SB 265: Revise cryptocurrency laws to create Financial Freedom and Innovation Act
Sponsor: Senator Daniel Zolnikov (R) SD 22
Status: Alive. Passed House Floor.
Note: SB 265 follows Frontier Institute’s recommendations to reduce legal ambiguities for blockchain based businesses and protects self custody of digital assets. Our statement of support here.

Status of Other Key Bills:

HB 20: Require voted levies to be in dollars rather than mills
Sponsor: Rep. Larry Brewster (R) HD 43
Status: Alive. Amended in the Senate, returned to the House.

SB 90: Redistribute certain state tax revenue to primary residence property tax relief
Sponsor: Senator Carl Glimm (R) SD 3
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

SB 101: Revise laws related to squatting
Sponsor: Senator Becky Beard (R) SD 38
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

SB 117: Revise government entity limitations on property tax increases
Sponsor: Senator Daniel Zolnikov (R) SD 22
Status: Alive. Introduced.

SB 119: Repeal incumbent electric utility right of first refusal law
Sponsor: Senator Wylie Galt (R) SD 39
Status: Dead. Tabled in Committee.

HB 231: Revise property tax rates for certain property
Sponsor: Rep. Llew Jones (R) HD 18
Status: Alive. Passed House floor

HB 270: Revise remedies to MEPA
Sponsor: Rep. Katie Zolnikov (R) HD 44
Status: Alive. Passed House Floor.

HB 285: Generally revise Montana environmental policy act
Sponsor: Rep. Brandon Ler (R) HD 33
Status: Alive. Passed House floor

SB 204: Sunset or reapprove existing approved property tax levies
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hertz (R) SD 7
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 24-26 on 3rd Reading

SB 205: Revise laws related to voter approval for property tax levies and bonds
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hertz (R) SD 7
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 25-25 on 2nd Reading

SB 254: Prohibit direct or indirect expenditure of public money to hire lobbyist
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hertz (R) SD 7
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 22-28 on 2nd Reading

SB 262: Exempt subdivision, water/sewer plans from environmental review
Sponsor: Senator Forrest Mandeville (R) SD 28
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

HB 410: Revise laws for approval of bond elections and mill levy elections
Sponsor: Lukas Schubert (R) HD 8
Status: Dead. Failed on the House floor 27-71 on 2nd Reading

HB 614: Allow for the termination of certain county zoning districts
Sponsor: Rep. Greg Overstreet (R) HD 88
Status: Alive. Passed House floor

HB 629: Revise laws related to a proposed subdivision’s connection to a public water supply or wastewater system
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick (R) HD 24
Status: Alive. Passed House floor

HB 534: Allow county water and/or sewer districts to connect to a system beyond capacity
Sponsor: Rep. Courtenay Sprunger (R) HD 7
Status: Alive. Passed House floor

HB 528: Revise property tax rates for agricultural, residential, and commercial property
Sponsor: Rep. Ed Byrne (R) HD 11
Status: Alive. Passed First Committee

HB 713: Revise municipal zoning laws
Sponsor: Rep. Larry Brewster (R) HD 43
Status: Alive. Passed House floor

HB 802: Revise zoning laws related to the rental of a primary residence
Sponsor: Rep. Shannon Maness (R) HD 70
Status: Dead. Tabled in Committee

HB 453: Require DOR to accept income tax payments in cryptocurrency
Sponsor: Rep. Randyn Gregg (R) HD 78
Status: Dead. Tabled in Committee.

SB 330: Create a Montana blockchain and digital innovation task force
Sponsor: Senator Gayle Lammers (R) SD 21
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

HB 630: Require legislative approval of greenhouse gas rules
Sponsor: Rep. Curtis Schomer (R) HD 48
Status: Dead. Tabled in Committee

SB 355: Generally revise energy laws
Sponsor: Rep. Wylie Galt (R) SD 39
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

HB 363: Generally revise laws relating to selection of public service commissioners
Sponsor: Rep. Larry Brewster (R) HD 43
Status: Dead. Tabled in Committee

Judiciary

For this issue area, we’ve been tracking proposals from the legislature’s Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform. We haven’t formally endorsed any bills related to this issue area.

Status of Key Bills:

HB 30: Requiring the Supreme Court to apply a burden of proof for challenge to constitutionality of legislative act
Sponsor: Rep. Lee Deming (R) HD 54
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 25-25 on 2nd Reading

HB 35: Allocating judicial standards commission to the department of justice
Sponsor: Rep. Fiona Nave (R) HD 56
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 25-25 on 2nd Reading

HB 36: Disallowing judge to serve as chair of judicial standards commission
Sponsor: Rep. Fiona Nave (R) HD 56
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 22-28 on 2nd Reading

HB 39: Repeal law disallowing parties from contributing to judicial candidates
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Millett (R) HD 2
Status: Signed by Governor

HB 52: Generally revising administrative procedure laws relating to agency deference
Sponsor: Rep. Lee Deming (R) HD 54
Status: Dead. Failed on the House floor 37-63 on 2nd reading

HB 65: Audit State Bar of Montana
Sponsor: Rep. Lee Deming (R) HD 54
Status: Alive. Passed House Floor.

SB 13: Remove Supreme Court original jurisdiction for ballot review
Sponsor: Daniel Emrich (R) SD 11
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

SB 14: Audit Office of Disciplinary Council
Sponsor: Senator Barry Usher (R) SD 19
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

SB 15: Revising grounds for impeachment
Sponsor: Tom McGillvray (R) SD 26
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

SB 16: Allowing legislative committees to find contempt for violation of legislative subpoena
Sponsor: Senator Mark Noland (R) SD 6
Status: Dead. Withdrawn.

SB 20: Prohibit retired judges from hearing constitutional cases
Sponsor: Senator Jason Ellsworth (R) SD 43
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

SB 21: Allowing legislative and executive leadership to vacate a writ of mandamus
Sponsor: Senator Barry Usher (R) SD 19
Status: Alive. Passed Senate Floor.

SB 30: Revise laws related to the Judiciary and rule of necessity
Sponsor: Senator Tom McGillvray (R) SD 26
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor

SB 31: IOLTA Bill providing interest back to client
Sponsor: Senator Barry Usher (R) SD 19
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 22-28 on 2nd Reading

SB 38: Generally revise laws relating to attorney fees and prevailing parties for veto overrides
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hertz (R) SD 7
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor.

SB 39: Generally revise attorney fee awards
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hertz (R) SD 7
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor

SB 40: Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public
Sponsor: Senator Greg Hertz (R) SD 7
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor

SB 41: Require substitution of district court judges by random selection
Sponsor: Senator Daniel Emrich (R) SD 11
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor

SB 42: Provide the partisan election of judges and justices
Sponsor: Senator Daniel Emrich (R) SD 11
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor

SB 43: Generally advise injunctive powers of the judiciary
Sponsor: Senator Daniel Emrich (R) SD 11
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 22-28 on 2nd Reading

SB 45: Create a judicial performance evaluation commission and system
Sponsor: Senator Tom McGillvray (R) SD 26
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor

SB 47: Enhance committee review of statewide ballot issues
Sponsor: Senator Wendy McKamey (R) SD 12
Status: Dead. Failed on the Senate floor 17-32 on 3rd reading

SB 48: Generally revise laws relating to Judicial Standards Commission complaints
Sponsor: Senator Carl Glimm (R) SD 3
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor

SB 49: Exempt lawyers serving in certain public offices from professional disciplinary measure and proceedings for actions taken while in office
Sponsor: Senator Barry Usher (R) SD 19
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor

SB 52: Create Montana Court of Chancery
Sponsor: Senator Tom McGillvray (R) SD 26
Status: Dead. Withdrawn.

SB 385: Create a General Claims Court
Sponsor: Senator Tom McGillvray (R) SD 26
Status: Alive. Passed Senate 2nd reading.

Other Bills

Beyond our core 3 core policy areas, we have also identified or endorsed numerous bills which follow past recommendations we’ve made.

Status of Bills We’ve Endorsed:

HB 650: Revise bonding laws to include broadband projects
Sponsor: Rep. Caleb Hinkle (R) HD 68
Status: Alive. Passed House floor
Note: HB 650 follows the Frontier Institute’s recommendation to limit government meddling in the private marketplace by placing reasonable sidebars on government-backed internet networks.

HB 336: Provide for apprenticeship programs for certain license types
Sponsor: Rep. Curtis Schomer (R) HD 48
Status: Alive. Passed House floor
Note: Creates additional pathways to professional licensure by allowing apprenticeships as an alternative to traditional education. Our statement of support here.

HB 414: Revise laws related to licensing applications
Sponsor: Rep. Jodee Etchart (R) HD 51
Status: Alive. Passed House Floor.
Note: HB 414 streamlines license approval for professionals already licensed in good-standing in other states. Our statement of support here.

Status of Other Key Bills:

SB 456: Revise professions and occupations laws regarding dispensing of drugs
Sponsor: Senator Tom McGillvray (R) SD 26
Status: Alive. Passed Senate floor
Note: SB 456 follows Frontier Institute’s past recommendations to expand the scope of practice for medical practitioners, allowing practitioners to dispense non-opioid medications they’ve prescribed directly to a patient from their office.

HB 84: Revise liability, training for prescribed fires
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Gist (R) HD 25
Status: Alive. Passed House floor
Note: HB 84 follows Frontier Institute’s recommendations to clarify prescribed burn liability standards while protecting against potential damages.

HB 136: Revise property insurance laws relating to preventative measures to reduce damage
Sponsor: Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick (R) HD 24
Status: Alive. Passed House Floor.
Note: HB 136 follows recommendations made in Frontier Institute’s 2023 Forest Management Policy Playbook for the state to promote voluntary wildfire mitigation incentive programs for property insurance.

SB 438: Revise telehealth and telemedicine laws
Sponsor: Rep. Daniel Zolnikov (R) SD 22
Status: Dead. Tabled in Committee
Note: SB 438 follows Frontier Institute’s recommendation to allow patients to receive care from physicians licensed in other states via telehealth without requiring Montana licensure.