The Montana House of Representatives organized for the 69th legislative session on Jan. 6, 2025, swearing in members, electing Representative Brandon Lehr of House District 33 as speaker and adopting temporary operating rules by voice votes.

The organizational meeting set leadership, named key officers and referred a slate of bills to committee — steps that establish how the chamber will operate during the 90-day session and shape early legislative business.

Judge Luke Savage of the Richland County Justice Court administered the constitutional oath of office to members. After the roll call showed 99 members present and Representative Fulk excused, nominations opened for speaker of the house. House Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick nominated Representative Brandon Lehr of House District 33 for speaker. Representative Keith Sullivan moved to close nominations, which was approved, and the chair declared Lehr duly elected as speaker for the 69th legislative session.

Speaker Brandon Lehr addressed the chamber after being seated, saying, “I stand before you profoundly humbled and deeply honored to serve as your speaker of the house.” He thanked family and emphasized the responsibilities of the office.

The House also elected officers by voice vote: Carolyn Cheetah as chief clerk of the house and Bradley Murphy as sergeant at arms. Representative Katie Zolnikoff was nominated and elected speaker pro tempore. Those voice votes were announced as carried by the chair; no roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript.

On procedural matters, the House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 1 as temporary joint operating rules and adopted House Resolution 1 as temporary house operating rules; both motions were approved by voice vote. The clerk recorded that a group of resolutions and bills were introduced and read the titles for first reading and referral; the transcript lists House Resolution 1, House joint resolutions 1 and 2, and house bills including House Bill 13 and House Bills 15–117 as introduced, read a first time and referred to committee (contents and specific committee assignments for each bill were not specified in the transcript).

Leadership delivered opening remarks outlining priorities. House Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick described conservative priorities including property tax reform, regulatory reductions and economic development; he closed his remarks with a colloquial send-off, “Go cats and good luck tonight.” House Minority Leader Katie Sullivan summarized the Democratic caucus’s priorities — cost and affordability, property-tax relief, education, housing and protecting Medicaid — and said her caucus intends to work across the aisle where possible.

Committees set organizational meeting times for the coming days; recorded announcements in the session included meetings for Local Government, Judiciary, Energy, Fish and Wildlife, Appropriations subcommittees, Natural Resources, State Administration, Transportation, Health and Human Services, Business and Labor, Taxation and full Appropriations (dates, times and rooms were announced on the floor). The House recessed after the organizational business and the majority leader moved to adjourn the session until 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025; that motion was approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance
• Election of Representative Brandon Lehr as Speaker of the House: single nominee; nominations closed and Lehr declared elected by the chair (voice action).
• Adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 1 as temporary joint operating rules: approved by voice vote.
• Adoption of House Resolution 1 as temporary house operating rules: approved by voice vote.
• Election of Carolyn Cheetah as chief clerk and Bradley Murphy as sergeant at arms: approved by voice vote.
• Election of Representative Katie Zolnikoff as Speaker Pro Tempore: approved by voice vote.
• First reading and referral: House Resolution 1, House joint resolutions 1 and 2, House Bill 13, and House Bills 15–117 introduced, read first time and referred to committee (contents not specified in the transcript).

The session’s organizational actions set the procedural framework for bill consideration and committee work during the 69th Montana Legislature and established the chamber’s leadership and staff who will oversee daily operations and floor procedure.