Commissioner of Political Practices says office can absorb small reporting changes within current budget

Commissioner Chris Gallus, commissioner of political practices for the state of Montana, told the Legislature's Section A budget subcommittee that his office can manage proposed reporting changes and routine workload with existing resources while seeking only modest personnel adjustments.

Gallus told the committee the commissioner's office was created in 1975 and handles enforcement under Montana's Corrupt Practices Act, campaign finance reporting, lobbying reports and ethics oversight for state officials. "My name is Chris Gallus, last name g a l l u s," he said during his opening remarks as he described the agency's duties and structure.

The agency operates with a small staff of seven employees, including a newly made-permanent chief legal counsel position and a combined investigator/compliance specialist and an outreach specialist. Gallus said the office helps candidates, political committees and lobbyists file reports and addresses flagged filings. He told the committee the office managed complaints and the docket in 2024 without a substantial backlog.

Why this matters: the commissioner enforces disclosure rules and lobbying filings that provide transparency for Montana elections and policymaking.…