HB 188 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revising appointment of interim committee members

House Bill 188 would revise the process for appointing members to legislative interim committees. It requires the Speaker of the House to appoint House interim committee members with advice from the Minority Leader. The bill mandates that the total number of members appointed from each chamber to these committees must reflect the partisan makeup of that chamber, and no interim committee may have a majority of its members from the minority party. Additionally, it revises the specific membership composition of the Environmental Quality Council to align with these new partisan appointment rules.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action May 20, 2025

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What changed between versions

LC1398.pdf → HB0188_1.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill changes how interim committee members are appointed in Montana's legislature, shifting authority from the committee on committees for Senate members to the Speaker of the House for House members, and adds a requirement that the Speaker consult with the Minority Leader. The bill also updates the composition rules to ensure partisan balance and prevents minority party majorities on interim committees.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on legislative committee appointments, but the authority and consultation requirements for making those appointments have been modified.

REQUIREMENT

Changed who appoints House interim committee members from the committee on committees to the Speaker of the House, who must now consult with the Minority Leader.

Updated interim committee composition rules to ensure the total number of members from each chamber reflects the partisan makeup of that chamber.

Added a prohibition preventing any interim committee from having a majority of its members from the minority party.

Clarified that when additional members are appointed beyond the standard composition, they must be selected to maintain the majority and minority balance of the legislature.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 3, 2025

Amended

(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) Legislative Administration

lower

Jan 14, 2025

Committee

(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Legislative Administration

lower

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

(H) Introduced

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors