Montana Senate adopts rules on 69th day of Legislature
A sign outside the printing room at the Montana Capitol. The Senate passed rules on the 69th day of the session, paving the way for official rule books to be printed. (Micah Drew/ Daily Montanan)
On the 69th day of the 69th legislative session, the Montana Senate adopted permanent rules for the chamber, more than three months after gaveling in to do business.
Less than 10 minutes into the start of the 2025 Legislature, the Senate was thrown into disarray when a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans blocked the GOP majority from passing the rules agreed upon by leadership. The dispute was mostly centered around committee assignments, which the coalition said diluted their ability to influence legislation.
The upper chamber has been operating under temporary rules ever since that first day, but finally reached an agreement this week on permanent rules.
'I think we've ironed out most of our differences,' said Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, during a press availability with reporters ahead of the vote. 'It's nice to have a set of rules you can take in the next session, get a rule book.'
On the Senate floor Tuesday, McGillvray outlined the changes to the existing rules structure, which included removing an Executive Review Committee that drew ire early on, changing several procedural deadlines for the chamber, and giving the minority leader approval over minority appointments to committees.
The new rules also require the Senate president to receive 'advance concurrence,' or approval, from the minority leader on the composition of conference committees — a select group of lawmakers assigned to iron out amendments to bills if both chambers do not agree on a final product — giving Democrats more power heading into the final weeks of the session when more bills are expected to end up workshopped that way. Previously, the minority leader only had to be consulted.
The Senate passed the rules resolution, SR 5, on a 37-13 vote.
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