Lawmakers Proposed Record Number of Study Bills in 2025 Session

In two years, the next Montana Legislature will reconvene in Helena. But before then, the 2025 legislature asked for studies on everything from farmers’ markets to changing the date of primary elections. In total, lawmakers have proposed 80 different study bills in 2025. That’s 42% more than the 10-session average of about 56.

In the waning days of the session, both the House and Senate agendas have been jam-packed with study bills. Sen. Dennis Lenz, R-Billings, said that could be because these bills serve as tools to help pass future versions of bills that died this session. But the motivatio...