Missoula, MT— The Montana Senate has taken a significant step toward raising legislative salaries, as lawmakers move forward with House Bill 13, a state employee pay plan that would increase compensation for state workers, including members of the Legislature. The bill, which passed initial approval in the Senate on Wednesday, proposes a series of pay increases that would take effect in 2027 and 2029, contingent on its passage through the legislative process.
Under the current proposal, lawmakers’ pay would gradually rise to match a larger portion of the average hourly wage for all workers in Montana. Currently, lawmakers earn $16.10 an hour. If the bill is approved, their pay would increase to 80% of the state’s average hourly wage by 2027, bringing their compensation to about $22 per hour. By 2029, the pay rate would climb further to 100% of the average wage, which is currently estimated to be around $28 per hour.
The pay increase has sparked significant debate among lawmakers. Some supporters, such as Sen. John Esp, R-Big Timber, who carried the bill on the Senate floor, argue that the current legislative salary has created a financial barrier that discourages many qualified Montanans from running for office. Esp explained that the volunteer nature of the work has made it increasingly difficult to attract individuals who are not retired or already employed elsewhere.
“We leave home, we come up here and we volunteer our time basically to serve the public,” Esp said during the debate. “It’s getting more difficult to find people that are willing to do that, that aren’t retired like I am or have some other job that they can do from both places.”
However, some senators, including Sen. Sue Vinton, R-Billings, opposed including the legislative pay increase in the bill, arguing that legislative compensation should be considered separately from that of other state workers. Vinton proposed an amendment to strip the pay increase from the bill, a move that was supported by a handful of lawmakers but ultimately failed. The amendment was rejected in a 12-38 vote, with 10 Republicans and 2 Democrats in favor and 22 Republicans and 16 Democrats against.
Opponents of the pay raise, including Sen. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, voiced concerns about public perception. Mandeville pointed out that he had not heard from constituents who felt lawmakers should be paid more for their work and suggested that if the issue were put to a referendum, the outcome would likely not favor a pay increase.
“What if this was a referendum? What if this issue, legislative pay, was on the ballot? How do you think that would go?” Mandeville asked. “If you think it would pass 75-25 – that people want us to come up here and increase our pay – vote against the amendment, vote for the bill.”
Despite the failed amendment, supporters of the raise continued to emphasize the importance of fair compensation for lawmakers. They argued that a reasonable salary increase would ensure a more diverse and qualified pool of candidates for the Legislature, which has been predominantly made up of individuals who are retired or already have other sources of income.
The bill’s passage could face another challenge as it moves to Governor Greg Gianforte’s desk. In 2023, Gianforte vetoed a similar pay increase, citing the idea of “limited compensation” as a key feature of Montana’s citizen Legislature. The governor’s stance on this issue remains uncertain, and some lawmakers have speculated that he may have softened his position since last year’s veto.
Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, who supported the pay increase, suggested that the governor might have reconsidered his earlier position. “Maybe the governor has softened his stance,” McGillvray said. “We’ll find out.”
If the bill passes the Senate on a final vote and reaches the governor’s desk, it will be up to Gianforte to decide whether to approve or veto the measure once again. As of now, it remains to be seen whether the push for higher legislative pay will ultimately succeed.
