The Montana Senate Business and Labor and Economic Affairs Committee voted to permit proxy voting in committee business during its organizational meeting, adopting the practice after a motion from the floor.

The committee’s vice chair called for discussion before a motion was made to accept proxy votes. Senator Loebe moved to allow proxy voting; the committee adopted the motion by voice vote with one senator recorded as opposed.

Committee chair Mark Nolan explained the practical effect of the policy for new members: senators who expect to be absent can fill out a proxy form naming another committee member to cast their vote during executive actions. If a senator does not designate a proxy, the chair said the proxy authority will default to the vice chair, who will complete the required form on the absent member’s behalf. Chair Nolan and staff also noted a separate floor proxy form—used when members are on the Senate floor—must be obtained from leadership and completed in advance for those votes to count.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally for the proxy-voting motion in the transcript; senators present responded vocally during the voice vote. Committee members discussed the administrative burden proxy voting can impose on staff and the time required to process proxy paperwork.

The committee chair said members should fill out proxy forms ahead of meetings when possible and that staff will assist members who need help completing forms. No further procedural changes were adopted at the meeting.

The committee’s adoption of proxy voting clarifies how absences will be handled during executive actions and aims to preserve members’ ability to participate when they must be elsewhere.

Votes at a glance: motion to allow proxy voting — mover: Senator Loebe; second: not specified; outcome: approved by voice vote with one nay recorded; recorded yes count: not specified; recorded no count: 1; abstain: not specified. Notes: voice vote recorded in transcript; no roll-call tally given.