Making progress to put Montanans first
The Montana Legislature has reached the halfway point and there’s good news. Compared to the acrimony and partisanship of the last several Legislatures, the 2025 session has moved toward a more balanced and common sense approach that puts Montanans first.
Democrats started the legislative session with a commitment to affordability, fairness, and freedom. And so far, we have been able to deliver on these commitments many times. With more elected Democrats in the legislature, we’ve had the opportunity to make real progress.
By creating legislative coalitions dedicated to sensible and level-headed governance, we’re proving that when legislators work together Montanans win. As a result, we’ve been able to pass a number of good bills that improve the lives of Montana families while defeating many harmful bills as well.
Making Montana more affordable
Montana increasingly is unaffordable for many families, small businesses, and retirees. To help folks make ends meet, one of our highest priorities was to continue the successful Medicaid program which provides health care to workers (often with several part-time jobs). This program benefits families, helps small businesses which often can’t afford health insurance, and is vital for Montana’s rural communities.
Senate Democrats first helped defeat two extreme proposals which would have killed this effective program and then passed a bipartisan renewal. As a result, nearly 100,000 Montanans will continue to receive critical healthcare, both now and into the future.
We also are working to provide property tax relief to Montanans. Democrats were the first to introduce tax solutions, and we are working to make sure the legislature passes a long-term solution that does the most it can for working Montanans and retirees.
Restoring fairness
Montana’s state government should prioritize Montanans and help create opportunities for them to thrive.
To that end, Democrats passed a bill to help make sure our public schools have the teachers, resources, and tools they need to provide a good, safe education for our children. We also sponsored and passed the Advanced Opportunities Bill which invests in education to strengthens Montana’s workforce and provides young Montanans with more pathways to success.
We also successfully defeated a number of dangerous anti-labor laws that would have hurt working Montanans and their ability to make a good wage and support their families
Protecting your freedoms
Montanans repeatedly have said they want an impartial and fair judiciary that protects the freedoms guaranteed to all Montanans by our state constitution. For this reason, we successfully have blocked more than ten bills so far that sought to undermine and politicize the judiciary.
In addition, we are working to stop repeated attempts by extremists in the legislature to undermine Montanans’ right to reproductive freedom. Montanans sent an overwhelming signal in November that they strongly support the right of women and families to make their own choices rather than having the government in their bedroom and doctor’s office.
Montanans first
We will work with anyone toward common sense solutions that put Montanans first and focus on affordability, fairness, and freedom. There’s still much work to do, but when we stand united and work together, we can deliver real solutions for Montana and its people.
Sen. Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, is the leader of the Montana Senate Democrats.