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April 10, 2025
A coalition of bipartisan Senate moderates gained significant control over Montana’s legislative session on April 8. The group secured new powers for Democratic Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers in a deal with Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray. This arrangement provides Flowers with pre-approval on Senate President Matt Regier’s conference committees.
Conference committees are crucial as they reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of bills. Once revised, these bills cannot be amended further, leaving lawmakers with a take-it-or-leave-it choice. Additionally, free conference committees have the ability to make extensive changes to bills, restricted only by the scope of their titles. This feature enables previously unsuccessful bills to resurface with new life.
The new rule mandates that the Senate President appoints all conference committees with the prior concurrence of the majority and minority leaders. Previously, these leaders only held advisory roles. The Senate approved the changes with a 37-13 vote, with Regier opposing.
“We’ve got enough work right now that I think this was the path to get across the finish line,” Sen. Laura Smith, part of the moderate coalition, commented. The moderates also replaced three conservative members on the influential Committee on Committees, signaling a shift in legislative dynamics.
The Nine, a group of GOP lawmakers cooperating with Democrats to pass priority bills, gained representation on the committee. New members include Sens. Josh Kassmier and Gayle Lammers, who have supported policies favored by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte.
The Senate experienced discord at the session’s start when a mix of Republicans and Democrats reassigned eight lawmakers to a committee seen as lacking purpose. The move drew attention as many involved had won contentious primaries or held moderate positions on issues like abortion.
The Nine’s very big plus-one
Before the state GOP executive committee withdrew recognition of nine rebellious Senate Republicans, they sought a meeting with Sen. Josh Kassmier. The MTGOP Executive Director asked Kassmier questions, notably about Senate President Matt Regier and Sen. Jason Ellsworth, the latter recently censured for a conflict of interest.
The executive committee’s decision excluded questions about whether the nine senators represented Montana Republicans’ interests, simply stating they didn’t and announcing no financial or endorsement support. Kassmier responded, suggesting the real issue was their support for Gov. Gianforte’s policies, reflecting internal GOP tensions.
Sen. Daniel Emrich voiced similar sentiments during an April 3 debate on a pension bill, thanking the Senate Democratic minority for supporting Gianforte. Most Republicans opposed the bill, also voting down the governor’s tax proposals. Kassmier backed Gianforte’s plans, diverging from Regier’s preferences, highlighting a split within the party over gubernatorial support.
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