Representative Carlin seeks interim study on public participation and the new legislator portal

Representative Zachary Carlin opened a hearing on House Joint Resolution 38, a study resolution to review public participation in the legislature and how recent changes to the legislative website and new legislator portal affect public comment and legislator access.

Carlin told the committee the review should include how the public — constituents, lobbyists, reporters and others — can best interact with the legislative branch, how the new portal routes comments and whether better categorization or notice practices would help legislators prioritize district constituents. “I think given all the recent changes ... there would be benefit to either Legislative Counsel or an interim committee kind of reviewing, talking with stakeholders,” Carlin said.

Carlin used his experience on the Montana Environmental Policy Act working group as an example of how location metadata and comment provenance can help legislators evaluate the weight of public input. Committee members and questioners said many legislators and stakeholders had trouble with the new portal; concerns included form emails with identical subjects, difficulties finding hearings or bills, and that some emails or switchboard calls may be getting lost or routed inefficiently.

Members suggested the study should consult a broad set of stakeholders: advocacy groups, lobbyists, reporters, county and municipal officials, tribal governments and the public. Representative Fern and Vice Chair Quorum asked whether the study should focus specifically on the portal; Carlin said the portal should be a primary focus but that the review could also consider alternative or supplemental approaches and best practices from other states and national groups such as the National Conference of State Legislatures.

No proponents or opponents testified in the hearing; staff and committee members discussed logistics. Carlin said he envisions a fairly broad interim review to “learn from other states and how they're managing public engagement” and to develop potential improvements for both the interim and next session.

Ending: The committee closed the hearing with agreement to let staff finalize a draft study resolution and to return next week to sign off and assign a carrier. The sponsor asked stakeholders and colleagues to submit edits to committee staff by the Monday following the hearing so staff can finalize the draft for introduction.