Montana has a citizen legislature. Lawmakers hold other jobs, and the Legislature meets in regular session only in odd-numbered years, for up to 90 legislative days, starting in January.
Size and terms
- House of Representatives: 100 members, two-year terms.
- Senate: 50 members, four-year terms.
- Term limits: eight years in any sixteen-year period in each chamber.
How a bill moves
- A legislator requests a bill draft through Legislative Services.
- The bill is introduced and sent to a committee, which holds a public hearing.
- If the committee passes it, the full chamber debates and votes. The process then repeats in the other chamber.
- The governor can sign the bill, veto it, or return it with amendments. A bill can also become law without a signature.
Between sessions
Interim committees study issues and draft legislation for the next session. The governor can call special sessions, and so can a majority of legislators.
Follow along
The Legislature’s bill-tracking system (LAWS) lets anyone search bills, watch hearings and submit testimony remotely during sessions.
For more background, see our explainers on how ballot initiatives work in Montana, how Montana county government works, and the Montana Public Service Commission. Find more stories in our Politics & State Government section.
Sources
- Montana Legislature: https://leg.mt.gov/
- Bill tracking: https://bills.legmt.gov/
- Montana Constitution, Article V: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0000/article_0050/