MT · Officeholder
DState Representative · District 3
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Montana House District 3
Debo Powers is a Democratic state representative from Montana who has represented House District 3 since January 2025 and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1] A former public school teacher and principal, she previously served in the House from 2019 to 2021 and sits on the Appropriations Committee.[1][2]
Debo Powers was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and graduated from W.J. Woodham High School.[1] She studied at Pensacola Community College and Florida State University, and her career experience includes working as a public school teacher and principal.[1] In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, she said she grew up in a military family, now lives in rural Montana next to Glacier National Park, and has worked as a conservation and public lands advocate and a volunteer for Glacier National Park wilderness patrol and the Flathead National Forest as a fire lookout.[2]
Powers was appointed to House District 3 in 2019 and served until January 2021, after losing the November 3, 2020 general election to Republican Braxton Mitchell.[1][2] She defeated Cathy Mitchell in the November 5, 2024 general election and returned to the House on January 6, 2025, where she is assigned to the Appropriations Committee.[1] Her stated key campaign messages in the 2024 survey were protecting public lands, changing the state funding formula for public schools to fund education adequately and raise teacher pay, and affordability, including lower residential property taxes and affordable housing.[2]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Debo Powers is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 3 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
Most contested
On the version voted Apr 30, 2025: Appropriates money to state agencies for the two-year period ending June 30, 2027.
Apr 2, 2025 · Failed 44–55 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders
Allows firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency care providers to file workers' compensation claims for posttraumatic stress disorder when diagnosed under the DSM and arising from their employment.
Apr 25, 2025 · Passed 58–42 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Generally revise state finance laws
On the version voted Apr 29, 2025: Creates the Montana Growth and Opportunity Trust funded by transfers of volatile revenue, accounts for property tax relief, water development, local bridges and early childhood, a property tax credit for certified primary residences, and pension and housing funds.
Apr 28, 2025 · Passed 63–37 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders
Allows firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency care providers to file workers' compensation claims for posttraumatic stress disorder when diagnosed under the DSM and arising from their employment.
Apr 25, 2025 · Passed 58–42 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer
Bars health insurers that cover advanced or metastatic cancer from requiring an insured person to fail, or prove a history of failing, a different drug before covering an FDA-approved prescription drug that follows national cancer guidelines.
Apr 11, 2025 · Passed 61–38 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Provide licensing and regulation of community health workers
On the version voted Apr 30, 2025: Requires community health workers to be licensed by the Department of Labor and Industry; applicants must be 18 or older, complete a training program and supervised experience or show equivalent experience, and pay fees, with requirements set by rule.
Apr 2, 2025 · Passed 15–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Fund 6th graders in middle school at high school ANB rates along with 7th and 8th graders
On the version voted Apr 5, 2025: Funds 6th graders in accredited middle school or junior high programs at the midpoint between elementary and high school per-student rates, as 7th and 8th graders are, and adds funding for career and technical education.
Apr 4, 2025 · Passed 59–41 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Provide best beginnings scholarships to child care workers
On the version voted Apr 8, 2025: Expands the Best Beginnings child care scholarship program to child-care workers at licensed day-care centers and registered family or group day-care homes with household income under twice the state median, appropriating $5.5 million a year.
Apr 7, 2025 · Passed 60–40 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Establish Montana's BEST program to bolster educator support and training
On the version voted Apr 5, 2025: Creates the Montana B.E.S.T. program giving training and support to teachers in their first three years, including mentor stipends, with a $1 million a year appropriation.
Mar 27, 2025 · Passed 14–9 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revise fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management
Requires the Fish and Wildlife Commission to apply different gray wolf management techniques by region, and allows infrared and thermal scopes when hunting wolves on private land outside daylight hours.
Apr 11, 2025 · Passed 56–43 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revising solar energy policy laws
On the version voted Apr 9, 2025: Requires utilities to interconnect shared solar facilities of 50 kilowatts to 5 megawatts and to give subscribing customers on-bill credits, and distinguishes shared solar subscribers from net metering customers.
Apr 8, 2025 · Passed 57–41 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Require the department of fish, wildlife, and parks to publish a report on river usage
On the version voted Mar 31, 2025: Requires the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to publish a biennial river-use report, paid from the state park account, and appropriates $2.6 million.
Mar 18, 2025 · Passed 67–32 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revise definition of sex in Montana law
Defines sex in state law by reproductive anatomy as male or female only, defines male, female, man, woman, father and mother on that basis, and says "gender" used alone is a synonym for sex rather than gender identity.
Apr 11, 2025 · Passed 55–44 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public
On the version voted Apr 30, 2025: Requires the Montana Supreme Court to record its closed deliberation meetings and keep a written record, and makes both available to the public after the case is final, though the court may redact confidential information.
Apr 11, 2025 · Passed 61–38 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Authorizing governor to enter into agreements with tribal governments relating to marijuana
Authorizes the governor to enter agreements with tribal governments on marijuana regulation and appropriates $1,000.
Apr 8, 2025 · Passed 59–41 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit
On the version voted Apr 25, 2025: Increases the elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit, changes the definition of household income and the credit phaseout, and adds an inflation adjustment to the phaseout income level.
Mar 28, 2025 · Passed 15–8 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Specifies acceptable forms of rent payment (cash, check, electronic or other agreed forms) and bars landlords from charging extra fees based on payment type, except to recoup an electronic bank fee for electronic payments.
Apr 18, 2025 · Passed 91–7 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Provide statewide access to a K-12 digital toolkit
Appropriates money for statewide access to a K-12 digital toolkit, $1.1 million a year to the Office of Public Instruction and $750,000 a year to the Department of Labor and Industry.
Apr 5, 2025 · Passed 74–24 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Provide for Montana genomic security act
Bars Montana medical and research facilities from using genetic sequencers or software made by a foreign adversary, bans storing Montanans' genetic data outside the U.S., and requires written consent for remote access from outside the U.S.
Apr 11, 2025 · Passed 95–3 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program
On the version voted Apr 25, 2025: Extends the disabled veteran property tax assistance program to veterans rated 80% to 90% disabled, with property tax rate multipliers of 70% to 90% depending on income.
Apr 23, 2025 · Passed 17–6 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 3 of 81 party-divided votes on file.
Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public
What it does: Requires the Montana Supreme Court to record its closed deliberation meetings and keep a written record, and makes both available to the public after the case is final, though the court may redact confidential informa…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 20–22, Republicans 57–1
Apr 30, 2025Official record ↗
Provide for veterinary training loan program
What it does: Creates a veterinary training loan program giving loans up to $100,000 to students who commit to practicing in underserved Montana areas, with repayment if they do not, and with forgiven loans not counted as income.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 20–22, Republicans 56–2
Apr 8, 2025Official record ↗
Provide for veterinary training loan program
What it does: Creates a veterinary training loan program giving loans up to $100,000 to students who commit to practicing in underserved Montana areas, with repayment if they do not, and with forgiven loans not counted as income.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 19–21, Republicans 56–1
Apr 8, 2025Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Revise definition of sex in Montana law
With most of their party · Passed 55–44 · Yes 55–No 44 · Democrats 0–42, Republicans 55–2
Apr 11, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Failed 44–55 · Yes 44–No 55 · Democrats 42–0, Republicans 2–55
Apr 2, 2025Official record ↗
Revise fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management
With most of their party · Passed 56–43 · Yes 56–No 43 · Democrats 0–42, Republicans 56–1
Apr 11, 2025Official record ↗
Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public
With most of their party · Passed 61–38 · Yes 61–No 38 · Democrats 6–36, Republicans 55–2
Apr 11, 2025Official record ↗
Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders
With most of their party · Passed 58–42 · Yes 58–No 42 · Democrats 42–0, Republicans 16–42
Apr 25, 2025Official record ↗
Revising solar energy policy laws
With most of their party · Passed 57–41 · Yes 57–No 41 · Democrats 41–0, Republicans 16–41
Apr 8, 2025Official record ↗
Fund 6th graders in middle school at high school ANB rates along with 7th and 8th graders
With most of their party · Passed 59–41 · Yes 59–No 41 · Democrats 42–0, Republicans 17–41
Apr 4, 2025Official record ↗
Provide best beginnings scholarships to child care workers
With most of their party · Passed 60–40 · Yes 60–No 40 · Democrats 42–0, Republicans 18–40
Apr 7, 2025Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Motion: Do Adopt
Raises the daily civil penalty for violating the 310 stream-permit law from $500 to $5,000, with total limits of $100,000 for a first violation and $250,000 for a second, none after; exempts forest practices allowed under state law.
Motion: Do Concur
A yes vote, on third reading, gave the House's final agreement to the Senate's amendments to HB 2 (the General Appropriations Act). (AI-written)
Appropriates money to state agencies for the two-year period ending June 30, 2027.
Motion: Do Adopt
Requires the Montana Supreme Court to record its closed deliberation meetings and keep a written record, and makes both available to the public after the case is final, though the court may redact confidential information.
Motion: Do Concur
A yes vote, on third reading, gave the House's final agreement to the Senate's amendments to HB 850 (community health worker licensing). (AI-written)
Requires community health workers to be licensed by the Department of Labor and Industry; applicants must be 18 or older, complete a training program and supervised experience or show equivalent experience, and pay fees, with requirements set by rule.
Motion: Do Concur
A yes vote, on third reading, gave the House's final agreement to the Senate's amendments to HB 4 (appropriations by budget amendment). (AI-written)
Appropriates money normally handled by budget amendment to state agencies for fiscal 2025, lets some appropriations continue into 2026 and 2027, and provides for fund transfers.
Motion: Do Concur
A yes vote, on third reading, gave the House's final agreement to the Senate's amendments to HB 511 (firefighting training facility grants). (AI-written)
Creates a firefighting training facility grant program, with up to $5 million in grants to local firefighting authorities for construction, repair and equipment, requiring one-to-one matching funds.
Motion: Do Adopt
On the version voted Apr 30, 2025: Raises the daily civil penalty for violating the 310 stream-permit law from $500 to $5,000, with total limits of $100,000 for a first violation and $250,000 for a second, none after; exempts forest practices allowed under state law.
Motion: Do Concur
A yes vote, on third reading, gave the House's final agreement to the Senate's amendments to HB 924 (state finance law revisions). (AI-written)
Creates the Montana Growth and Opportunity Trust funded by transfers of volatile revenue, accounts for property tax relief, water development, local bridges and early childhood, a property tax credit for certified primary residences, and pension and housing funds.
Motion: Do Concur
A yes vote, on third reading, gave the House's final agreement to the Senate's amendments to HB 5 (long-range building appropriations). (AI-written)
Appropriates money for major repair and capital development projects for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, and raises certain long-range building program value thresholds from $150,000 to $300,000.
Motion: Do Adopt
On the version voted Apr 30, 2025: Requires the Montana Supreme Court to record its closed deliberation meetings and keep a written record, and makes both available to the public after the case is final, though the court may redact confidential information.
Showing 10 of 169 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.