How to testify before the Montana legislature

The mechanics of testifying are in the general guide. This page covers what is specific to Montana.

How Montana does it

Montana's Legislature meets in regular session only in odd-numbered years, roughly January through April, so there is no regular session in 2026. Legislators instead serve on interim committees that study issues between sessions, and the public can attend and often comment there too. When a session is underway, the Legislature's Public Participation application lets anyone testify remotely, submit written testimony or exhibits, or message a committee or legislator without traveling to Helena. Create an account, then register to testify on a specific bill before its hearing. Once registered, you get an emailed Zoom link tied to your name, valid for that one meeting only. The display name on your Zoom account must match your registration name or the chair may block you from testifying. Committee chairs can limit repetitive testimony, impose time limits, and reorder the bill queue. There's no fixed statewide per-speaker time limit in statute.

Deadlines and numbers

• Remote testimony sign-up deadline: 2 hours before the hearing.
• Interim committee term: 20 months, spanning the interim between sessions.
• Next regular session: convenes January 2027 (odd year).
• General legislative info line: 406-444-3064. Remote testimony help line: 406-444-0912.

Where to go

• Start at legmt.gov/participate to create an account and access remote testimony, written testimony, and messaging tools.
• Interim committee schedules and agendas: Committee Explorer at committees.legmt.gov
• Information Desk: 406-444-4800