Today marks day 55 of the Montana legislative session, and now that we are past the halfway point, expect the process to clip along with bills moving through committees, amendments, and floor debates at lightning speed.
Good news for those of us who care about civil rights under the Big Sky here at the ACLU of Montana, this is not our first rodeo, and we are ready and accustomed to the increased post-transmittal pace. Our focus remains steadfast, and our incredible Advocacy, Policy, and Organizing Team has already hit the ground running in the final leg of the legislative session.
Indigenous Justice remains one of our priority focus issues, and we are pleased to share the good news that Senate Bill 224, a bill establishing Indigenous Peoples' Day as an official state holiday, has passed out of the House State Administration Committee. Next steps for getting this bill passed include a floor debate and a full vote of the House chamber. To that end, we encourage you to send your elected officials a message to vote yes on SB 224. Attempted every session since 2021, this moment marks the most significant progress the legislation has made in years. Until it passes through both chambers and is signed into law, we must keep the momentum going with strong support.
Remember, the second half of the session always moves fast. Please stay up to date with the bills we are tracking by visiting our website for details on our Legislative Advocacy page. Additionally, there are resources on how to engage in the legislative process and add your voice in support of civil liberties at our state legislature.
As always, we appreciate your continued care and consideration of civil rights in Montana. We have heard many times throughout this session how much your voice makes a difference when proposed legislation is moving through the process. This is our legislature. Let's go!
