Legislative Session Update - Action items for January 27-29
More legislation is coming through! We know there’s a lot to remember, so we’re trying to help with a reminders on a few action items you can still take this week.
This is just a quick overview, so if you want more details on any of these bills, please click here to read our most recent Session Summary.
Email your legislators here or call the Capitol switchboard at 406-444-4800 to leave them a message.
Action items!
YES on SB 4
This bill to extend the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force that was created in 2019 made it through the Senate and will have a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Friday morning. Please contact that committee and your House member to say YES to SB 4.
YES on HB 36
The bill to establish a missing persons response team training grant program passed Second Reading on the House floor today with a vote of 100-0. It’s wonderful to see bills supporting programs to end the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people have such broad support! It faces one more vote in the House before moving over to the Senate, so please tell your House member to vote YES on HB 36..
NO on county supremacy bills
SB 67, HB 144, HB 121, HB 145, SB 108, and HB 236
All of these bills are attempts to undermine the authority of county health boards and give more power to county sheriffs and county commissions. This shift in power toward elected county officials is a key component in militia ideology, called county supremacy. You can read more about the problems with these bills here.
SB 67 and HB 144 attempt to give county sheriffs permission to decide which laws they want to enforce.
HB 121, HB 145, SB 108, and HB 236 are all variations on the idea that county commissioners should have final approval for all recommendations from county health boards.
We need to make sure that health care professionals with degrees in public health and medicine are in charge of public health recommendations.
Here are action items for these bills:
HB 236 has a hearing tomorrow (Thursday) in the House Judiciary Committee. Please contact that committee and tell them NO on HB 236.
HB 144, which would remove penalties for sheriffs who do not assist health officers, has its second reading in the House tomorrow. Please contact your House member and say NO to HB 144.
SB 108 passed out of committee onto the Senate floor, so please tell your senator NO on SB 108.
NO on HB 200 and HB 223
These two anti-immigration bills were heard in the House Judiciary Committee this week and are waiting on executive action. HB 200 prohibits sanctuary cities in Montana, even though none currently exist. HB 223 would compel local law enforcement officers to be pulled into immigration issues, which could increase racial profiling and erode trust between police and Montana residents.
Please contact the House Judiciary Committee and tell them NO on HB 220 and HB 223.
Update on HB 112 and HB 113
HB 113, which would have prohibited transgender youth in Montana from receiving necessary and affirming medical care, is officially dead! It did not pass through a third reading on Tuesday, or a re-vote on Wednesday. Final vote was 46 in favor of reviving the bill and 53 against.
HB 112 did pass its third reading with a 61-38 vote. Please contact your senator and and tell them NO on HB 112. When this is assigned to a committee, we’ll let you know so you can contact them.
Update on HB 136, HB 140, HB 167, HB 171
These four anti-choice bills passed their third reading in the House on Tuesday and will now move on to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Please contact that committee and your senator and urge them to vote NO. You can read more about these bills here.
NO on HB 102
This bill which would remove the requirement for concealed carry permits and allow guns on college campuses passed the House. It was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which passed it earlier this week. However, the bill has been sent back to committee for more work. Please contact the committee and tell them to table the bill. Also contact your senator and tell them to vote NO to HB 102 if it reaches the Senate floor. More information is available here.
NO on SB 176
Legislators are trying to repeal Montana’s very successful same-day voting registration law, which would prevent many young and Indigenous voters from casting a ballot. Same-day Election Day voter registration would be eliminated under HB 176, and late voter registration would close at 5 pm on the Friday before Election Day.
Contact the House State Administration Committee and your House member and say NO to HB 176. This bill had a hearing, but is waiting for executive action.