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MontanaSB 6469th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET

Clarifying calculation of legislator compensation and expenses during the interim

Sponsored By: Pat Flowers (Democrat)

Signed by Governor

Legislature

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Interim pay and travel for legislators

Legislators doing authorized interim work get set pay and travel reimbursements, with prior approval. Remote participation pays one full day’s salary for each 24-hour period. For in-person trips: 100 miles or less round trip pays one day’s salary, mileage, and one midday meal. More than 100 and less than 400 miles pays two days’ salary, mileage, two nights of lodging at the federal rate, and two morning, two midday, and two evening meals. 400 miles or more pays three days’ salary, mileage, two nights of lodging at the federal rate, and three morning, three midday, and three evening meals. Each extra consecutive in-person day has set additional pay and expenses. No extra day is paid if an authorized site visit or other business stretches the stay into another 24 hours.

Pay and travel for regional assignments

If funds are available and the Legislative Council approves, legislators appointed to interstate, international, or intergovernmental bodies may receive the salary set in law and reimbursement of travel costs for entity-sponsored work. Legislators appointed to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region are entitled to that salary and to travel reimbursement under the standard state rules.

Tighter travel meal rules for state staff

State employees get a meal allowance only if in travel status for more than 3 straight hours during set windows: morning 12:01 a.m.–10:00 a.m., midday 10:01 a.m.–3:00 p.m., or evening 3:01 p.m.–12:00 a.m. Travel inside the employee’s travel shift (1 hour before to 1 hour after the normal shift) allows only one meal. An employee may get up to two meals only when the trip starts before or ends after that shift and the trip is 24 hours or less. Appointed board, commission, or council members get a midday meal on meeting days even if the meeting is near home. This special midday meal does not apply to legislative committee members during a legislative session.

Changes take effect immediately

The law takes effect on passage and approval. All pay and travel changes apply right away.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Pat Flowers

    Democrat • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 366 • No: 31

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/25/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 1

House vote • 3/20/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 90 • No: 8

House vote • 3/19/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 39 • No: 10

Senate vote • 2/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 40 • No: 10

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    4/17/2025Senate

  2. Signed by Governor

    4/16/2025Senate

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/8/2025Senate

  4. Signed by Speaker

    4/7/2025House

  5. Signed by President

    4/1/2025Senate

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    3/28/2025Senate

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    3/26/2025Senate

  8. 3rd Reading House Amendments

    3/26/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading House Amendments

    3/25/2025Senate

  10. Returned to Senate with Amendments

    3/20/2025House

  11. 3rd Reading

    3/20/2025House

  12. 2nd Reading

    3/19/2025House

  13. Committee Report

    2/21/2025House

  14. Committee Executive Action

    2/21/2025House

  15. 1st Reading

    2/7/2025House

  16. Hearing

    2/7/2025House

  17. Referred to Committee

    2/7/2025House

  18. Transmitted to House

    2/6/2025Senate

  19. 3rd Reading

    2/6/2025Senate

  20. 2nd Reading

    2/5/2025Senate

  21. Committee Report

    1/24/2025Senate

  22. Committee Executive Action

    1/24/2025Senate

  23. Hearing

    1/18/2025Senate

  24. Fiscal Note Printed

    1/15/2025Senate

  25. Fiscal Note Signed

    1/14/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    3/21/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    3/21/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/21/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    12/16/2024

    PDF

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