Article Summary –
Republican lawmakers in Montana have called for three special sessions to address political issues in the election cycle. The first call, backed by House Speaker Matt Regier, proposes tighter immigration laws following the arrival of a Venezuelan migrant family in Flathead County. The second request from the Montana Freedom Caucus also calls for stricter immigration laws and a constitutional amendment to limit voting rights to verified US citizens, while a third group requests a special session to propose legislation allowing for partisan judicial elections in the state.
Three Republican groups have called for three separate special sessions this week, each focusing on political issues relevant to the current election cycle. Each of these special sessions is intended to address different policy areas, including stricter immigration laws and partisan judicial elections.
Two of the requests for special sessions, one backed by House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, and another from the Montana Freedom Caucus, propose tightening immigration laws. The move follows the controversy caused by the arrival of a Venezuelan migrant family in Flathead County. Regier’s request, signed by other Republican legislative leaders, calls for regulation of “illegal alien entry into Montana.”
Regier also requested a special session to reallocate tax revenues from Montana’s legal marijuana program in the wake of 2023’s vetoed Senate Bill 442. The Montana Freedom Caucus’ request, on the other hand, advocates for a constitutional amendment stipulating that only verified US citizens over 18 who meet registration and residency requirements can vote.
PARTISAN JUDICIARY PROPOSAL
In a separate move, hardline conservatives proposed a special session to push for partisan judicial elections. The proposal advocates for voters to make decisions based on partisan affiliations of judicial candidates, a departure from the current non-partisan system.
Despite the Republican supermajority, attempts to pass legislation for partisan judicial elections failed during the 2023 session. Critics argue that it could undermine public trust in the judiciary.
IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
House Speaker Regier’s special session request focuses on regulating illegal alien entry into Montana. This initiative was prompted by the arrival of a Venezuelan migrant family in Flathead County, sparking controversy among Republicans.
Regier expressed interest in adopting legislation similar to that of Texas and Iowa, where illegal immigration is considered a state crime, and state courts can order deportation of migrants. However, both states’ laws face legal challenges, with Texas’ law currently blocked by a federal appeals court.
Despite the difficulties, both proposed special sessions and a third concurrent session aim to begin in late June. However, none of them have yet received the governor’s explicit support.
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