The 69th Montana Legislature has officially reached its halfway point, bringing with it one of the most intense and fast-paced periods of the session: the transmittal deadline. As committees wrapped up their pre-transmittal work, attention shifted to the House and Senate floors, where nearly 250 bills were debated in the final days before the deadline.

Understanding the Transmittal Deadline

The transmittal deadline serves as a critical milestone in the legislative process. By this date, all policy bills that do not carry a fiscal impact must advance from their chamber of origin to the opposite chamber or be effectively considered dead for the session — at least in their current form. Typically occurring at the halfway point of the session, legislative leaders extended transmittal by three days this year, making it day 48 of the session — March 7.

This deadline ensures that proposed laws are progressing and helps manage the legislative workload. Any bill failing to advance by this point is unlikely to move forward unless its language is amended into another viable bill later in the session.

Grassroots Advocacy in Action

We are thrilled to share that the grassroots efforts of our Advocacy Champions made a tangible impact during this crucial period. Thanks to the collective voices of credit union advocates, we successfully stopped three key bills that posed challenges to our movement:

• SB 489: Revise laws regarding the purchase of banks by credit unions
• SB 240: Revise laws related to equality in financial services
• SB 176: Providing for nondiscrimination related to firearms possession or activity

Your emails, calls, and personal visits to lawmakers helped ensure these bills did not advance. This is a testament to the power of advocacy and the value of an engaged credit union community.

The Realities of a Citizen Legislature

Unlike Congress or legislatures in larger states, Montana operates with a part-time citizen legislature. Our lawmakers are not professional politicians; they are small business owners, farmers, ranchers, blue-collar workers, retirees, and community members who step away from their daily lives to serve in Helena.

This structure makes public input incredibly influential. When you take the time to connect with legislators, your voice truly matters. The accessibility to our lawmakers is one of the unique strengths of Montana’s legislative process, reinforcing the importance of grassroots advocacy efforts.

What Comes Next?

While the transmittal deadline is a significant milestone, the legislative journey is far from over. As the saying goes in the Montana Legislature, “Nothing is dead until sine die.” Many policy ideas that did not survive this deadline may find new life in the coming weeks. Lawmakers often seek creative avenues to reintroduce key provisions by amending them into other bills that have successfully advanced.

As we enter the second half of the session, Montana’s Credit Unions will remain vigilant, tracking bills that impact our industry and engaging with lawmakers to ensure our priorities are heard. Thank you to all our Advocacy Champions who have made their voices heard. Your efforts are shaping the future of credit unions in Montana.

Stay tuned for more updates as we navigate the remainder of the session together!