House Business and Labor committee approves use of proxy voting

The Montana House Business and Labor Committee voted to allow proxy voting for committee business, the panel’s chair announced after a voice vote.

Chair Ed Buttry, presiding at the informational meeting Wednesday, said Vice Chair Keri Seekins Crowe moved to accept proxies and the committee approved the motion by voice. “All those in favor of use of proxy in the Business and Labor Committee, say aye,” the chair said. “Any opposed? Motion passes.”

The committee’s published practice will have proxy forms available the next day; Chair Buttry said both vice chairs will hold stacks of proxy forms and record signed proxies during executive action. He warned members to ensure proxy holders understand and carry out their instructions: “You are responsible for your vote,” he said. “Once they vote, that’s on the record.”

The chair also described limits on proxy use noted in committee policy: motions to remove a bill from the table must be voted in person, and some types of motions cannot be cast by proxy. He directed members to fill out proxy sheets in advance so staff can record proxy votes during executive action.

The proxy motion was procedural and no roll-call tally was recorded on the record; the committee approved it by voice during the meeting.