House Transportation committee adopts proxy-vote rules, assigns vice chairs to hold proxies and sets $40 snack fund

The House Transportation Committee voted to accept proxy votes during the 69th Montana Legislature, agreed that vice chairs will hold proxy forms for their caucuses and set a $40-per-member snack fund, Chair Neil Durham said Friday during the committee’s organizational meeting.

The proxy policy matters because the committee said proxies will allow members to register votes on executive action when they cannot be physically present, provided they designate their intent ahead of time. Vice Chair Zach Wirth moved the initial proxy-acceptance motion and members approved it by roll call with no nay votes.

Committee chair Neil Durham opened the organizational meeting and stressed procedural items, including quorum requirements and the committee’s approach to proxies. “I make a motion that during the 69th legislative session, the transportation committee can accept proxies during, for committee absences and committee votes,” Vice Chair Zach Wirth said when offering the motion. Clerk Emma Bauer then conducted a roll-call vote that recorded 12 ayes and no nays; Representatives Cafaro (excused) and Sullivan (excused) were absent for the roll call. The committee recorded the motion as approved.

Vice Chair…