The Montana State Senate passed Senate Bill 59 to name the Highway 37 bridge as it enters Libby from the north the "Staff Sergeant Arthur J. Rambo Memorial Bridge." The bill passed the Senate by recorded votes of 50-0 at both committee recommendation and final passage.

Senator Cuff, the bill sponsor, described the measure as personal and emotional, saying, "I've never carried a bill like this. This is my 8th session. My last session." He told senators the committee hearing included family testimony by video and moved the committee recommendation that the bill "do pass." Cuff said the naming would honor a fallen Vietnam veteran and noted there would be "wording to an to offer memory of other fallen veterans."

The bill drew strong support on the floor. Senator Novak said, "I just rise in support of this, and I wanna, give a heartfelt thank you to the family and friends that came to speak and recognize that it was, as he said, very emotionally charged, and hard for a lot of folks in the room." Senator Logie added, "I've been involved in quite a few committee bill committees that have had, memorial highway bills, but this is the ultimate that we've ever seen. And thank you to the family. Vote yes."

Procedural steps recorded in the transcript show Majority Leader McGilvery moved that the body suspend the rules so SB 59 could be placed on second and third reading the same day; the motion was approved "without objection." The committee then resolved into the committee of the whole for second-reading consideration. After debate and the sponsor's motion that the committee recommend the bill "do pass," the clerk recorded 50 votes in favor and 0 opposed; the bill passed second reading. The committee of the whole and the committee report were adopted by voice votes and recorded tallies showing 50-0. On third reading the Senate again recorded 50 ayes and 0 noes and declared SB 59 passed.

Senator Cuff framed the bill as a unifying measure: "This is a feel good kind of a bill. This is a very honorable kind of a bill. This this is a bill, I believe, that is urgently needed." He recounted the committee reaction, saying at least "13 out of 14 members of the committee were in tears by the end of it," and emphasized the family's participation by video. The sponsor also cautioned against conflating the veteran's name with fictional characters, noting the family "despise those movies" and stressing the honoree's different character.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 59 — Staff Sergeant Arthur J. Rambo Memorial Bridge: Committee recommendation vote 50-0; final passage in the Senate 50-0.

What happens next

The transcript records passage in the Senate; any subsequent steps (house consideration, enrollment, or enactment) are not recorded in this session's transcript.