Montana Legislature (65th:2017) records, 2017

The Montana State Legislature is made up of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Constitution of Montana limits the size of the Senate to no fewer than 40 and no more than 50 members and the size of the House of Representatives to no fewer than 80 and no more than 100 members. Each house is responsible for choosing its officers, creating committees and establishing its own rules. The Montana Legislature meets for 90 days every odd numbered year, beginning the first Monday in January, or the following Wednesday if the first Monday is New Years Day. The first State Legislature convened on November 23, 1889, fifteen days after Montana became a state. Each following Legislature has been numbered sequentially.

The 65th Montana Legislature met from January 2nd to April 29th, 2017 and a Special Session held November 14th-15th, 2017. There were 16 standing committees in the House and 18 standing committees in the Senate, as designated by the 2017 Rules. Bob Keenan (R-President Pro Tempore), Fred Thomas (R-Majority Leader), Mark Bladsel, Ed Buttrey and Cary Smith (R-Majority Whips), Jon Sesso (D-Minority Leader) and Tom Facey and JP Pomnichowski (D-Minority Whips). The leaders of the House were Austin Knudsen (R-Speaker), Greg Hertz (R-Speaker Pro Tempore), Ron Ehli (R-Majority Leader), Seth Berglee, Alan Doane, Theresa Manzella, and Brad Tschida (R-Majority Whips), Jenny Eck (D-Minority Leader), Tom Woods (D-Minority Caucus Chair), and Nate McConnell, Shane Morigeau, and Casey Schreiner (D-Minority Whips). The transmittal dates were March 1st, 23rd and 31st, and April 7th, 19th, 21st and 25th.

Sources:Montana State Legislature Session Information ;The Constitution of the State of Montana as adopted by the Constitutional Convention March 22, 1972, and as ratified by the people, June 6, 1972, referendum no. 68, "A GUIDE TO THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE," The Montana Legislature,; “Montana Legislative Leadership 1889 – Present”.