Montana committee hears hours of testimony on bill to limit irrigation-commission votes to local division acres

Senate Bill 5-17, which would change the way irrigation-district commissioners are elected so only acres inside a candidate’s division may vote for that candidate, drew extended testimony and was tabled by the Senate Agriculture Committee after public comment and legislative questioning.

The committee heard proponents who said the change would align commissioner elections with other district-based elections. Spencer Pearson, a third‑generation farmer in the Fairfield Bench and member of the Greenfield Irrigation District, told the committee, “Senate bill 5 17 ensures geographical area division representation for the needs of the local constituency in a division.” Proponents argued that voters who live and farm in a division are better positioned to choose representatives for that division.

Opponents — including irrigation-district managers, district…