The Montana Legislature can be a daunting institution to keep tabs on. As the 2025 legislative session gears up, MTFP is producing a series of video and text pieces intended to help our readers track their lawmakers and make sense of the headlines they’ll see in the months to come. Up today: a look at how you can weigh in as a public commenter.
You can find committeehearing times on the schedule posted on the Legislature’s website, or on the pages specific to particular bills on the official bill tracker. Committees will typically hear several bills during a given meeting, so attendees hoping to offer comment should be prepared to wait for lawmakers to discuss other bills. You can also comment virtually, though you’ll need to register in advance, typically at least two hours before the hearing begins.
In addition, you can provide comments to a committee about a bill its members are reviewing via the legislative website. You can also call the Legislature’s information desk at 406-444-4800 to leave a message for a specific lawmaker or a committee. Many lawmakers also post their contact information on the legislative website if you want to reach out directly.
Through the legislative website, you can also identify your senator and representative and search legislation by issue.
Regardless of how you reach out, it’s worth remembering that legislators work through hundreds of bills each month. Being as clear and concise in your comments as possible will often make it easier for your point to hit its mark.
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