2021 MT Legislature

Stay informed about the 2021 Montana Legislature with the Gallatin County Democrats. Bookmark this page as we’ll be updating it often.

Gallatin Legislators Contact Info
Montana Free Press Bill Tracker
Bills We're Watching - Updated Weekly

Legislative Action Alerts

If you’re interested in specific issues, and would like to stay informed about legislative action you can take, the easiest way is to subscribe to one of the organizations doing the hard work in Montana. We’ve complied a list of organizations we’re aware of who send updates and action alerts related to the 2021 Montana Legislature. If you have suggestions for other organizations to add to this list, email us.

Gallatin County Democrats Newsletter
Forward Montana - What the Helena?!
Montana Woman Vote Action Alerts
ACLU Updates & Alerts
MEIC Take Action
MEIC Bill Tracker
Montana Wilderness Association Action Team
Montana Human Rights Network Alerts
Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE)

Updates from Gallatin Legislators – Every Thursday

We’ll be hearing from our Gallatin Democratic Legislators every Thursday at 5:30 pm live on Facebook. After our conversation, we’ll post the recorded video here. If you have questions you’d like answered, email them to us by 5:00 pm on Thursdays. 

Watch previous updates on YouTube. 

Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials

We know information isn’t always easy to find, and it can be intimidating to take action before, during, and after the MT Legislative session. We’re working on helpful tutorials to make it a little easier for everyone. We’ll be adding more as the session progresses. Thanks for being engaged!

Navigating the MT Legislature’s Website

How to request to testify via Zoom

How things work in the Montana Legislature
Bills through the MT Legislature
Here's a quick guide to understanding what's going on: Halfway through the Montana Legislature, there is an administrative break called Transmittal. For a few days, legislators take a break from committee hearings and floor votes while general bills from one chamber are moved to the other. Transmittal this year is scheduled for March 4 - 7. Transmittal is one of the reasons we've seen an onslaught of bills being heard in the MT House and MT Senate. General bills MUST be voted on by the transmittal break in order for them to move to the second chamber. If a bill has an appropriation attached to it, that bill has a later deadline in which it needs to be transmitted to the second chamber. In other words, bills that impact the Montana budget may still be in committee and won't be voted on this week. The onslaught of bills we mentioned earlier? It didn't have to be this way. In 2019, in the four days leading to the transmittal break, the MT house heard a TOTAL of 72 bills on 2nd reading. This year, the MT House heard 70 (!!) bills in ONE DAY. The transmittal break gives us all a chance to catch our breath, but also to dig into what's happened and what comes next. Join one of the many online town halls and conversations scheduled from March 3-7 and bring your questions. They work for YOU after all. (We're hosting 4 - sign up at https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZIqdOuvqDIiEtaGo0t3THwKXbomR...) The MT Legislature will reconvene (after transmittal break) on Monday, March 8. Bills will be heard in committees of the second chamber, and we have a chance to impact the outcome again. Your voice matters - stay engaged!