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May 8, 2025
Montana lawmakers saw mixed results in their attempt to reshape judicial elections. While Republican efforts to place party labels on Montana Supreme Court ballots failed, two new laws could significantly affect the 2026 race for Justice Beth Baker’s replacement. These laws, HB 39 and SB 45, focus on campaign financing and judicial evaluations.
Rep. Tom Millett’s House Bill 39 removed financial restrictions on political party donations to judicial candidates. Under this law, party donations could reach $84,150 per election. Judicial candidates benefit since TV ad costs are lower than those for political action committees.
Sen. Tom McGillvray’s Senate Bill 45 introduced performance evaluations, including preelection reviews. These evaluations were initially to be shared with voters by the Secretary of State. However, implementation remains uncertain as the evaluation commission needs setup, with funds available from July 1.
Flathead County Judges Dan Wilson and Amy Eddy have entered the race to succeed Baker, spotlighting the potential impact of these laws. Despite new rules, Montana’s judicial conduct code still prohibits accepting party funds, possibly limiting HB 39’s intended effects.
—Tom Lutey
What a Blast
The legislative session highlighted the Senate’s use of ‘blast’ motions to revive stalled bills, a method uncommon across U.S. legislatures. Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers noted the frequency of such motions, with April seeing 39 attempts and 28 successes. This strategy arose from a coalition of nine Republicans and 18 Democrats controlling floor votes but not committees.
Senate committee chairs often blocked initiatives favored by the D+9 group. In contrast, the House saw smoother operations, with bipartisan cooperation led by Republicans, including House Speaker Brandon Ler.
This method echoes past efforts like the 2015 Medicaid expansion push that required multiple votes to pass.
—Tom Lutey
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