2025 MT Legislative Scorecard

HB15 updates the state's K-12 school funding formula to include inflation adjustments. The bill increases base aid by over $52 million over two years. It adjusts funding components such as per-student entitlements and allocations for quality educators and special education.

The Montana State Senate passed HB15 on March 21, 2025 by a vote of 33 to 17. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the U.S. public-education system suffers from poor academic performance and the indoctrination of harmful ideologies—creating a significant taxpayer burden that this legislation only exacerbates. This decline is intentional, aimed at undermining traditional American principles. Public education represents an unconstitutional expense that frequently fails to deliver positive outcomes—further perpetuating indoctrination and promoting woke policies. We encourage all parents to get their children out of government schools and instead pursue sound alternatives such as homeschooling and patriotic private schools, such as FreedomProject Academy, that are not government funded.

SJ4 sought to invoke Article V of the U.S. Constitution to apply for an Article V constitutional convention to propose constitutional amendments imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government.

The Montana State Senate rejected SJ4 on March 27, 2025 by a vote of 23 to 27. We have assigned pluses to the nays because a so-called “Convention of the States” would not be limited in scope. The vague and inconsistent language in this resolution opens the door to what Article V of the U.S. Constitution describes as a “Convention for proposing Amendments”—effectively a second constitutional convention. Such a convention poses serious risks, as it could result in sweeping changes to the Constitution beyond the stated intent. Article V was intended to address structural issues within the federal government—not to rein in the misconduct of elected officials. Instead of risking unintended consequences through a convention, more effective and immediate remedies exist, such as congressional repeal of harmful amendments and state nullification of unconstitutional federal actions, which directly restore authority to the states and the people.

HB504 expands the state's Livestock Loss Mitigation Program to include domestic bison. Previously, compensation for livestock losses due to predators like wolves, mountain lions, and grizzly bears was limited to traditional livestock such as cattle, swine, and horses. With this legislation, domestic bison producers are now eligible for financial assistance when their animals are killed by these predators.

The Montana State Senate passed HB504 on April 8, 2025 by a vote of 44 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the nays because, as President Grover Cleveland stated in his 1887 veto message for the Texas Seed Bill, “I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the General Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering…. Though the people support the Government the, Government should not support the people.” HB504, like the Texas Seed Bill, seeks to use taxpayer money to compensate for local hardships—in this case, predator-related losses to domestic bison. While such losses are unfortunate, it is not the proper role of government to provide relief for every misfortune. Solutions to these challenges should come from the private sector, voluntary associations, and insurance markets—not from expanding state subsidies that shift personal risk onto the public.

HB350 prohibits the state and its subdivisions from enforcing or funding mandates issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), or World Economic Forum (WEF).

The Montana State Senate passed HB350 on April 11, 2025 by a vote of 32 to 16. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the Constitution, under Article VI, is the supreme law of the land, and international bodies such as the WHO, UN, or WEF have lawful authority over the American people. These globalist entities promote policies—such as Agenda 2030—that undermine U.S. and state sovereignty. States not only have the right but the duty to resist and nullify unconstitutional mandates, especially those originating from foreign organizations.

HB809 prohibits local governments from enacting or enforcing extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), commonly known as red flag laws, and bars local governments from receiving state or federal funds related to the enforcement of ERPOs.

The Montana State Senate passed HB809 on April 14, 2025 by a vote of 29 to 19. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. Additionally, this bill utilizes Article VI of the U.S. Constitution to nullify unconstitutional federal acts related to guns.