Who: Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission
When: November 28 to December 1; December 10; December 15; December 21
Where: State Capitol and Zoom
Goal: Stay informed. The public’s attendance at meetings help the Commission know what Montana people want.
The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission has released tentative agendas for four meetings it has scheduled during November and December. By the end of the December, the commissioners plan to have a complete state legislative district proposal to submit to the Montana Legislature for its review and recommendations. A complete state legislative proposal includes 100 House districts and 50 Senate districts. The proposal will assign the 25 senators who were elected in 2022 to Senate districts for the final two years of their terms.
Information about each meeting is provided on the meeting agenda, including how the public can participate.
The initial four draft maps the commission used to gather public comments in the fall are available online at the commission’s website. Additional map proposals will also be posted online as they become available.
November 28 through December 1 Work Session Information: During a four-day work session starting at 9 a.m. on November 28, the commission will work to craft 100 state House districts. The work session will continue at 9 a.m. on each subsequent day, though the commission may decide not to meet on one or more of the noticed meeting dates. Up-to-date information will be available throughout the process at the commission’s website https://mtredistricting.gov/
Because the commission took public comment on proposed legislative House district maps during 9 public hearings held in August and September. The commission will not take additional verbal comment during this work session. However, written comments are always accepted, and the public is encouraged to submit comments that can help improve the quality of the final maps. The public can also watch the meeting in person in Room 102 of the Capitol or stream it live online at the Montana Legislature’s website.
December 10 Public Hearing Information: The results of four-day work session will be the focus of a public hearing on December 10. The commissioners will be taking comments on proposed legislative House district maps, possible House district pairings to create Senate districts, and holdover senator assignments. The meeting starts at 10 a.m. in Room 102 of the State Capitol in Helena. There will also be a Zoom option. Instructions on how to sign up for the Zoom link are available on the December 10 meeting agenda.
December 15 Work Session Information: The commissioners hold a work session starting at 9 a.m. in Room 102 of the State Capitol in Helena. Possible work session topics include revisions to the proposed House districts, pairings of House districts to create Senate districts, and assignment of holdover senators to districts. The commission will not take additional verbal comment during this work session. Written comments are always accepted. The public can also watch the meeting in person in Room 102 of the Capitol or stream it live online at the Montana Legislature’s website.
December 21 Public Hearing Information: As required by state law, the commission will hold a public hearing on the entire state legislative redistricting proposal it plans to submit to the Legislature. The hearing will start at 9 a.m. in Room 102 of the State Capitol in Helena. There will also be a Zoom option. Instructions on how to sign up for the Zoom link are available on the December 21 meeting agenda.
Written comments are encouraged and accepted at all times. Written comments may be submitted using the commission’s webform, emailed to districting@legmt.gov, or mailed to Districting and Apportionment Commission, PO Box 201706, Helena, MT 59620.
All meetings will be streamed live online at the Montana Legislature’s website, leg.mt.gov, and broadcast on the Montana Public Affairs Network (MPAN).
The commission may change meeting dates or times. Sign up to receive email updates or check the commission’s website for up-to-date information.
Commission website: https://mtredistricting.gov/
Commission staff: districting@legmt.gov or call Rachel Weiss (406-444-5367) or Joe Kolman (406-444-3747)