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Montana Senate recesses to join House for joint session with congressional delegation, chief justice and tribal nations
Summary
The Montana Senate voted to recess and proceed to a joint session in the House to hear the state's congressional delegation, the chief justice and the chairman of the tribal nations; the body will reconvene after the Public Health, Welfare and Human Services Committee adjourns.
At a meeting of the Montana Senate, Majority Leader Miguel Ray moved that the Senate recess and proceed to the House of Representatives for a joint session to hear the congressional delegation, the chief justice and the chairman of the tribal nations. The presiding officer called a voice vote and the motion carried.
The motion matters because the joint session brings the full Legislature into alignment to hear high-level addresses from Montana’s federal and judicial representatives and tribal leadership. The Senate’s temporary recess cleared the chamber for that joint proceeding and set the Senate’s return contingent on the adjournment of a standing committee.
The Senate secretary announced that 49 senators were present at the start of the proceeding. Earlier in the session, Senator Galt told members, “Just a heads up, we have a room change for natural resources. We will be in 03:35.” After the motion, the presiding officer instructed members to line up at the doors to move together to the joint session and noted that chairs would be available along the side and on the floor.
Majority Leader Miguel Ray made the motion on the floor. The motion also stated that "upon adjournment of the joint session, the senate will recess until the adjournment of public health welfare and human services committee." The presiding officer conducted a voice vote—"All those in favor say aye"—and declared the ayes carried. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for the vote.
No formal debate on policy or legislation is recorded in the transcript excerpt; the action on the floor was procedural, directing the Senate to move to the joint session and setting the timing for its return. The Senate’s next formal business in this excerpt will resume once the Public Health, Welfare and Human Services Committee adjourns and the chamber reconvenes.
The transcript indicates logistical instructions only; there were no recorded votes on bills or ordinances in the provided excerpt.
