House Transportation panel approves proxy voting, assigns proxy custody to vice chairs

Helena — The Montana House Transportation Committee on Friday voted to allow proxy voting for committee absences and committee votes during the 60th legislative session and designated the committee’s vice chairs to hold members’ proxy forms.

Vice Chair Zack Worth moved the measure, saying, "I make a motion that during the 60 ninth legislative session, the Transportation Committee can accept proxies during, for committee absences and committee votes." The motion passed on a roll-call vote with no nay votes recorded; the clerk recorded affirmative votes by Chair Neil Durham and multiple representatives and noted two members as excused.

Chair Neil Durham said proxy ballots remain the individual member’s vote and urged members to complete designations in advance. "It's your vote. You're accountable for your vote," Durham said, stressing members should designate how their proxy is to be cast if they anticipate an absence.

After the committee approved proxy voting, Vice Chair Denise Baum moved that the vice chairs hold proxy forms for their caucuses; the panel approved that motion by voice with the chair declaring it unanimous. Members debated whether to prefill a designee on proxy forms or leave them blank and recommended that members provide a designation close to the time of executive action to reflect their intended vote.

Clerk Emma Bauer administered the roll call for the first proxy-motion vote and confirmed the result. Members discussed practical contact methods; Worth said texting his personal cell was the most immediate way to reach him for proxy requests.

What happens next

With the proxy rules adopted, the committee will accept proxies according to the process established by the committee leadership and staff will record proxies as submitted. The panel also advised members not to write meeting dates on proxy forms because the chair noted the recorded date determines when the executive action is taken.