Montana Senate committee reconfirms Sarah Swanson as labor commissioner after broad praise from business, education and tribal leaders

Sarah Swanson won reconfirmation as Montana’s commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry after the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee closed a hearing and took executive action by voice vote, with the chair declaring “ayes have it.”

Supporters from across the state told the committee Swanson has modernized agency systems and expanded workforce programs during her roughly 20 months in office. Lieutenant Governor Kristin Juras called Swanson “a successful business woman and manager” who led an overhaul of the unemployment insurance system and streamlined licensing and board operations. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen described Swanson as a reliable, service‑oriented leader who “answers the phone” and helps other agencies with HR and workplace issues.

In her own remarks, Swanson outlined three priorities — her background, the department’s mission, and accomplishments during her tenure — and reviewed specific initiatives: the Muse unemployment insurance system (launched October 2023), the Employ Montana workforce data system (phase 2 rolling out in May), a cloud migration for licensing and inspections (Acela), and a newly created tribal liaison and tribal youth coordinator. She also cited results from rapid‑response work after mass layoffs, including securing federal dislocated worker grants tied to the Stillwater Mine and sawmill closures.

Committee questioning focused on the department’s rapid‑response work after federal layoffs. Swanson told Sen. Weber that federal employers are not subject to WARN notices, that the department received little notice in that episode, and that participation in a recent statewide virtual rapid‑response event was low (23 in person, about 20 online), so DLI did not pursue additional federal funding at that time but is tracking the situation and will keep rapid response services available.

Several education and industry groups — including the Montana School Boards Association, the Montana Quality Education Coalition, the Montana Contractors Association and the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association — described partnerships with DLI on apprenticeships, work‑based learning and workforce pipelines. Supporters also credited the department with identifying previously unrecognized assets and draw errors in the unemployment system and with launching customer‑service pilots at local job service offices.

Committee chair Senator Mark Nolan closed the hearing and asked the committee to take executive action; a senator moved confirmation and the committee approved Swanson by voice vote. The committee did not record a formal roll‑call tally in the transcript; the chair announced, “Ayes have it.”

Next steps: Swanson’s reconfirmation moves forward with the committee’s do‑pass action and will be carried to the Senate floor as part of the committee’s executive business.