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Sponsor urges proportional formula for interim committees in House Bill 188
Summary
Representative Ed Staffman presented House Bill 188 to make interim committee appointments proportional to the legislature's party composition, arguing the change restores fair access to committee service. A former legislator and a Helena resident testified in support; no executive action was taken.
Representative Ed Staffman of House District 59 opened the Legislative Administration committee hearing on House Bill 188, saying the bill would replace the recent statutory 3-to-1 committee assignments with a proportional formula tied to the legislature's party share.
Staffman said interim committees historically were balanced, noting, "For as far back as anybody could remember, our interim committees, were 50 50 Democrat Republican." He told the committee the hurried change last session shifted some appointments to a 75/25 majority rule and left some members without assignments. "What I'm seeking to do here is create a system that outlasts the changing demographics," Staffman said, explaining his arithmetic that produces 26 Republican and 18 Democratic appointments in the House and a distribution of seven 2-2 committees and four 3-1 committees to match the total.
Hal Harper of Helena, testifying as a proponent, said the bill "gives the minority a better chance" while preserving the study-focused purpose of interim committees. Harper described balanced interim committees as effective for producing bipartisan work products and urged the committee to view HB188 as a step toward restoring that tradition.
Committee members pressed Staffman on mechanics and fairness. Representative Walsh asked whether the speaker would decide which committees would be 2-2 and which would be 3-1; Staffman confirmed the speaker retains that prerogative with advice from the minority leader. Representative Schubert asked whether basing committee composition on current legislative makeup would compound any effects of gerrymandered maps; Staffman replied the bill does not address redistricting and that the proposal simply reflects the legislature's present electoral outcomes.
Representative Perry asked why the sponsor chose seven 2-2 and four 3-1 committees rather than changing the number of appointments per committee; Staffman explained the choice preserves the statutory 4-from-house/4-from-senate structure while achieving overall proportionality across 44 house appointments.
The hearing closed without executive action; the chair said the committee will take executive action on HB188 at a later meeting.
The committee did not vote on HB188 during this session; the next procedural step will be executive action at a subsequent Legislative Administration meeting.
