What Does the Montana Legislature Do?
The Montana Legislature is the governing body that creates Montana state laws. The legislature consists of the 100-member Montana House of Representatives and the 50-member Montana Senate. They meet for 90 consecutive days each odd numbered year. The laws that legislators make impact the lives of each Montana resident. From privacy to voting rights, the laws passed during the legislative session directly affect the civil liberties of Montanans.
We sent a questionnaire to candidates in key legislative races, to learn more about where they stand on important civil rights and civil liberties issues. The ACLU does not endorse or oppose candidates, but we do want to give you the information you need to make informed decisions.
Update following the 2024 Election: Winners of each race are in BOLD.
Click here to jump to Candidate Questionnaire for Senate District (SD) 21 -Candidates State Representative Sharon Stewary Peregoy (D) and State Representative Gayle Lammers (R)
Click here to jump to Candidate Questionnaire for Senate District (SD) 24 - Candidates Mark Nicholson (D) and State Representative Mike Yakawich (R)
Click here to jump to Candidate Questionnaire for House District (HD) 41 - Candidates Jade Sooktis (D) and Dean “D.A” Wallowing Bull (R)
Click here to jump to Candidate Questionnaire for House District (HD) 42 - Candidates Sidney “Chip” Fitzpatrick (D) and Bill Hodges (R)
Click here to jump to Candidate Questionnaire for House District (HD) 48 - Candidates Anne Ross (D) and Curtis Schomer (R)
Candidate Questionnaire for Senate District (SD) 21
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| State Representative Sharon Stewary Peregoy (D) | State Representative Gayle Lammers (R) |
Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen that a law passed by the legislature to eliminate election day voter registration (HB 176) was unconstitutional and would disproportionately harm Native American voters. If elected, will you vote NO on any bill that would limit or ban election day voter registration?
State Representative Sharon Stewary Peregoy (D)
State Representative Gayle Lammers (R)
Refused to respond.
In Montana, voters living on reservations have historically had to travel disproportionately long distances in order to cast a ballot at county elections offices and polling locations. Since 2014, county election officials have been legally required to staff satellite voting locations on reservations. If elected, will you vote YES on any bill that increases on-reservation access to voting?
State Representative Sharon Stewary Peregoy (D)
State Representative Gayle Lammers (R)
Refused to respond.
In 2021, Montana state lawmakers established a Missing Indigenous Persons Review Commission at the Montana Department of Justice. If elected, will you vote YES on additional funding and efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIPs)?
State Representative Sharon Stewary Peregoy (D)
State Representative Gayle Lammers (R)
Refused to respond.
The Montana State Constitution requires all educational personnel and agencies to recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians in Montana. In 2023, lawmakers introduced a bill (HB 338) that aimed to increase accountability for educational agencies and fully implement Indian Education For All. If elected, will you vote YES on any bills that implement and promote Indian Education For All?
State Representative Sharon Stewary Peregoy (D)
State Representative Gayle Lammers (R)
Refused to respond.
Candidate Questionnaire for Senate District (SD) 24
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| Candidate Mark Nicholson (D) | State Representative Mike Yakawich (R) |
In recent legislative sessions, state lawmakers have introduced several bills that would restrict access to reproductive healthcare in Montana. If elected, will you vote NO on any bill that would ban or limit access to reproductive healthcare?
Candidate Mark Nicholson (D)
State Representative Mike Yakawich (R)
Refused to respond.
Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen that a law passed by the legislature to eliminate election day voter registration (HB 176) was unconstitutional and would disproportionately harm Native American voters. If elected, will you vote NO on any bill that would limit or ban election day voter registration?
Candidate Mark Nicholson (D)
State Representative Mike Yakawich (R)
Refused to respond.
In 2021, Montana state lawmakers established a Missing Indigenous Persons Review Commission at the Montana Department of Justice. If elected, will you vote YES on additional funding and efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIPs)?
Candidate Mark Nicholson (D)
State Representative Mike Yakawich (R)
Refused to respond.
The Montana State Constitution requires all educational personnel and agencies to recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians in Montana. In 2023, lawmakers introduced a bill (HB 338) that aimed to increase accountability for educational agencies and fully implement Indian Education For All. If elected, will you vote YES on any bills that implement and promote Indian Education For All?
Candidate Mark Nicholson (D)
State Representative Mike Yakawich (R)
Refused to respond.
Candidate Questionnaire for House District (HD) 42
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No photo available; please contact media@aclumontana.org to update. |
| Candidate Sidney “Chip” Fitzpatrick (D) | Candidate Bill Hodges (R) |
Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen that a law passed by the legislature to eliminate election day voter registration (HB 176) was unconstitutional and would disproportionately harm Native American voters. If elected, will you vote NO on any bill that would limit or ban election day voter registration?
Candidate Sidney “Chip” Fitzpatrick (D)
Candidate Bill Hodges (R)
Refused to respond.
In Montana, voters living on reservations have historically had to travel disproportionately long distances in order to cast a ballot at county elections offices and polling locations. Since 2014, county election officials have been legally required to staff satellite voting locations on reservations. If elected, will you vote YES on any bill that increases on-reservation access to voting?
Candidate Sidney “Chip” Fitzpatrick (D)
Candidate Bill Hodges (R)
Refused to respond.
In 2021, Montana state lawmakers established a Missing Indigenous Persons Review Commission at the Montana Department of Justice. If elected, will you vote YES on additional funding and efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIPs)?
Candidate Sidney “Chip” Fitzpatrick (D)
Candidate Bill Hodges (R)
Refused to respond.
The Montana State Constitution requires all educational personnel and agencies to recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians in Montana. In 2023, lawmakers introduced a bill (HB 338) that aimed to increase accountability for educational agencies and fully implement Indian Education For All. If elected, will you vote YES on any bills that implement and promote Indian Education For All?
Candidate Sidney “Chip” Fitzpatrick (D)
Candidate Bill Hodges (R)
Refused to respond.
Candidate Questionnaire for House District (HD) 41
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| Candidate Jade Sooktis (D) | Candidate Dean “D.A” Wallowing Bull (R) |
Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen that a law passed by the legislature to eliminate election day voter registration (HB 176) was unconstitutional and would disproportionately harm Native American voters. If elected, will you vote NO on any bill that would limit or ban election day voter registration?
Candidate Jade Sooktis (D)
Candidate Dean “D.A” Wallowing Bull (R)
Refused to respond.
In Montana, voters living on reservations have historically had to travel disproportionately long distances in order to cast a ballot at county elections offices and polling locations. Since 2014, county election officials have been legally required to staff satellite voting locations on reservations. If elected, will you vote YES on any bill that increases on-reservation access to voting?
Candidate Jade Sooktis (D)
Candidate Dean “D.A” Wallowing Bull (R)
Refused to respond.
In 2021, Montana state lawmakers established a Missing Indigenous Persons Review Commission at the Montana Department of Justice. If elected, will you vote YES on additional funding and efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIPs)?
Candidate Jade Sooktis (D)
Candidate Dean “D.A” Wallowing Bull (R)
Refused to respond.
The Montana State Constitution requires all educational personnel and agencies to recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians in Montana. In 2023, lawmakers introduced a bill (HB 338) that aimed to increase accountability for educational agencies and fully implement Indian Education For All. If elected, will you vote YES on any bills that implement and promote Indian Education For All?
Candidate Jade Sooktis (D)
Candidate Dean “D.A” Wallowing Bull (R)
Refused to respond.
Candidate Questionnaire for House District (HD) 48
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| Candidate Anne Ross (D) | Candidate Curtis Schomer (R) |
Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen that a law passed by the legislature to eliminate election day voter registration (HB 176) was unconstitutional and would disproportionately harm Native American voters. If elected, will you vote NO on any bill that would limit or ban election day voter registration?
Candidate Anne Ross (D)
Candidate Curtis Schomer (R)
Refused to respond.
Earlier this year, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in Western Native Voice v. Jacobsen that a law passed by the legislature to eliminate election day voter registration (HB 176) was unconstitutional and would disproportionately harm Native American voters. If elected, will you vote NO on any bill that would limit or ban election day voter registration?
Candidate Anne Ross (D)
Candidate Curtis Schomer (R)
Refused to respond.
In 2021, Montana state lawmakers established a Missing Indigenous Persons Review Commission at the Montana Department of Justice. If elected, will you vote YES on additional funding and efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIPs)?
Candidate Anne Ross (D)
Candidate Curtis Schomer (R)
Refused to respond.
The Montana State Constitution requires all educational personnel and agencies to recognize the distinct and unique cultural heritage of American Indians in Montana. In 2023, lawmakers introduced a bill (HB 338) that aimed to increase accountability for educational agencies and fully implement Indian Education For All. If elected, will you vote YES on any bills that implement and promote Indian Education For All?
Candidate Anne Ross (D)
Candidate Curtis Schomer (R)
Refused to respond.
