MT · Officeholder
DState Senator · District 23
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Montana Senate District 23
Emma Kerr-Carpenter is a Democratic state senator who represents Montana State Senate District 23, took office in December 2024 after serving in the Montana House from 2018 to 2024, and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1] She serves on the Senate Finance and Claims and Public Health, Welfare and Safety committees.[1]
Emma Kerr-Carpenter was born in Watertown, New York, and earned a bachelor's degree in international relations and religion from Boston University in 2012.[1] Her career experience includes teaching English in Brazil, working as a family support specialist, serving as a youth case manager, and working as a marketing and education coordinator.[1]
Kerr-Carpenter represented Montana House District 49 from 2018 to 2024, where she served on committees including Appropriations, Ethics (as vice chair) and Legislative Audit.[1] She assumed office in the State Senate on December 3, 2024, and in the 2025-2026 session was assigned to the Finance and Claims and Public Health, Welfare and Safety committees.[1] She advanced from the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary and faces Republican Joanna Oblander in the general election.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Emma Kerr-Carpenter is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Montana Senate District 23 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 17, 2025 · Failed 21–29 · 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 23, 2025 · Passed 26–23 · 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 24, 2025 · Passed 27–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
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 24, 2025 · Passed 27–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
On the version voted Apr 16, 2025: Sets Medicaid fees for physical, speech-language and occupational therapist services as a conversion factor ($39.56 in fiscal 2026) times relative value units; the department may raise the factor later in line with the medical care price index.
Apr 9, 2025 · Passed 12–10 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders
On the version voted Apr 25, 2025: 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 1, 2025 · Passed 12–10 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revise fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management
On the version voted Apr 11, 2025: 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.
Mar 31, 2025 · Passed 32–18 · 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.
Apr 24, 2025 · Passed 27–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process
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.
Apr 17, 2025 · Failed 20–30 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Eliminate reduced-price copayments for school lunch and breakfast
On the version voted Apr 5, 2025: Creates a state program, funded at $600,000 a year, to replace funding for school districts that eliminate reduced-price copayments for school lunch and breakfast.
Apr 16, 2025 · Failed 25–25 · 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.
Apr 24, 2025 · Passed 26–24 · 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 24, 2025 · Passed 27–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Revise definition of sex in Montana law
On the version voted Apr 11, 2025: 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.
Mar 6, 2025 · Passed 30–18 · 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 16, 2025 · Passed 31–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Authorizing governor to enter into agreements with tribal governments relating to marijuana
On the version voted Apr 8, 2025: Authorizes the governor to enter agreements with tribal governments on marijuana regulation and appropriates $1,000.
Apr 18, 2025 · Passed 32–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
On the version voted Apr 18, 2025: 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 11, 2025 · Passed 35–14 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
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.
Apr 12, 2025 · Passed 41–9 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Provide statewide access to a K-12 digital toolkit
On the version voted Apr 5, 2025: 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 23, 2025 · Passed 27–23 · 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 28, 2025 · Passed 48–1 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 4 of 83 party-divided votes on file.
Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process
What it does: 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;…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 6–12, Republicans 27–5
Apr 29, 2025Official record ↗
Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process
What it does: 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;…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 16–2, Republicans 4–28
Apr 17, 2025Official record ↗
Establish working animal protection act
What it does: As introduced, bars local governments from enacting ordinances or resolutions that ban, or create an undue hardship for, the use of working animals or animal enterprise in commerce or service.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–10, Republicans 32–0
Jan 31, 2025Official record ↗
Establish working animal protection act
What it does: As introduced, bars local governments from enacting ordinances or resolutions that ban, or create an undue hardship for, the use of working animals or animal enterprise in commerce or service.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 7–11, Republicans 32–0
Jan 30, 2025Official record ↗
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Eliminate reduced-price copayments for school lunch and breakfast
With most of their party · Failed 25–25 · Yes 25–No 25 · Democrats 18–0, Republicans 7–25
Apr 16, 2025Official record ↗
Revise definition of sex in Montana law
With most of their party · Passed 30–18 · Yes 30–No 18 · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 30–0
Mar 6, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Failed 21–29 · Yes 21–No 29 · Democrats 18–0, Republicans 3–29
Apr 17, 2025Official record ↗
Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public
With most of their party · Passed 31–18 · Yes 31–No 18 · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 31–0
Apr 16, 2025Official record ↗
Revise fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management
With most of their party · Passed 32–18 · Yes 32–No 18 · Democrats 0–18, Republicans 32–0
Mar 31, 2025Official record ↗
Establish Montana's BEST program to bolster educator support and training
With most of their party · Passed 26–24 · Yes 26–No 24 · Democrats 18–0, Republicans 8–24
Apr 24, 2025Official record ↗
Generally revise state finance laws
With most of their party · Passed 26–23 · Yes 26–No 23 · Democrats 17–0, Republicans 9–23
Apr 23, 2025Official record ↗
Provide best beginnings scholarships to child care workers
With most of their party · Passed 27–23 · Yes 27–No 23 · Democrats 18–0, Republicans 9–23
Apr 24, 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
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 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 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.
Motion: Do Pass
On the version voted Apr 25, 2025: Changes how marijuana tax revenue is divided, including 20% to a new habitat legacy account, 31% to law enforcement grants and 6.5% to drug and alcohol prevention, and creates accounts for wildlife highway crossings and land and wildlife stewardship.
Motion: Do Pass
On the version voted Apr 24, 2025: Lets 100%-employee-owned (ESOP) contractors claim refunds of the contractor's gross receipts tax credit, extends the credit carryforward from 5 to 7 years, and lets the credit offset certain real property taxes.
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 Pass
On the version voted Apr 24, 2025: Lets 100%-employee-owned (ESOP) contractors claim refunds of the contractor's gross receipts tax credit, extends the credit carryforward from 5 to 7 years, and lets the credit offset certain real property taxes.
Motion: Do Pass
On the version voted Apr 25, 2025: Changes how marijuana tax revenue is divided, including 20% to a new habitat legacy account, 31% to law enforcement grants and 6.5% to drug and alcohol prevention, and creates accounts for wildlife highway crossings and land and wildlife stewardship.
Motion: Do Pass
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.
Motion: Do Concur
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.
Showing 10 of 155 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.