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DState Representative · District 97
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Montana House District 97
Melody Cunningham is a Democratic state representative from Missoula who took office in January 2025 representing Montana House District 97 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1] A physician, she said in a Ballotpedia survey that healthcare, environmental care and public education are her main policy interests.[1][2]
Melody Cunningham was born in Augusta, Maine, and earned a high school diploma from Acton Boxborough Regional High School, a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College in 1988 and an M.D. from the University of Massachusetts in 1994.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, she described herself as a first-generation college graduate raised by a single mother after her father died suddenly, and as a physician who paid for medical training at a state medical school with scholarships and loans.[2]
Cunningham took office in the Montana House in January 2025, and in the 2025-2026 session she was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee and the Human Services Committee.[1] In her 2026 survey responses she said that as "the only medical doctor of the 150 legislators in Montana" she would help fellow legislators understand the unintended consequences of bills, and that she would work to bring sufficient funding to public education.[2] She advanced from the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary and faces Republican Michael Hagestad in the general election.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Melody Cunningham is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Montana House District 97 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 ↗
Implementing cost reporting for certain Medicaid service provider types
On the version voted Mar 20, 2025: Establishes a standardized cost reporting process for certain Medicaid service providers and appropriates $600,000 in state and $600,000 in federal funds for the related rate-adequacy report.
Feb 25, 2025 · Passed 14–7 · 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
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 5, 2025 · Passed 61–37 · 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
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 31, 2025 · Passed 73–26 · 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 31, 2025 · Passed 78–21 · 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
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 25, 2025 · Passed 82–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 3 of 70 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 ↗
Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public
A yes vote gave the bill second-reading approval in the House as amended by House Judiciary, which changes one connecting word ("and" to "or") in the list of categories defined as confidential information. (AI-written)
What it does: 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 co…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 12–30, Republicans 55–2
Apr 10, 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 148 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.