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MT · Officeholder

Sherry Essmann

RState Representative · District 49

Votes by issue

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 Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 24 of 72 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Education & families (9), Jobs & cost of living (6), Climate & energy (6)

  • Provide grant funding for firefighting training facilities

    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)

    What it does: 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.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 42–0, Republicans 21–36

    Apr 29, 2025Official record ↗

  • Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program

    What it does: 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.

    Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 9–0, Republicans 5–7

    Apr 18, 2025Official record ↗

  • Revise definition of sex in Montana law

    What it does: 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.

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–42, Republicans 56–2

    Apr 11, 2025Official record ↗

  • Revise definition of sex in Montana law

    What it does: 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.

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–42, Republicans 55–2

    Apr 11, 2025Official record ↗

  • Revise fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management

    A yes vote accepted, on third reading, the Senate's amendment, which changes the commission's duty to authorize listed wolf-management measures, such as extra licenses and night-vision scopes, from "shall" to "may". (AI-written)

    What it does: 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.

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–42, Republicans 56–1

    Apr 11, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

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.

SB 472 · MT HOUSE

Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process

YesVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 98–2·Substantive·Apr 30, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 2 · MT HOUSE

General Appropriations Act

NoVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 66–34·Substantive·Apr 30, 2025Roll call ↗
SB 40 · MT HOUSE

Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public

YesVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 77–23·Substantive·Apr 30, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 850 · MT HOUSE

Provide licensing and regulation of community health workers

NoVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 82–18·Substantive·Apr 30, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 4 · MT HOUSE

Appropriations by budget amendment

YesVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 73–26·Substantive·Apr 29, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 511 · MT HOUSE

Provide grant funding for firefighting training facilities

YesVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 63–36·Substantive·Apr 29, 2025Roll call ↗
SB 472 · MT HOUSE

Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process

YesVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 96–4·Substantive·Apr 29, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 924 · MT HOUSE

Generally revise state finance laws

NoVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 60–39·Substantive·Apr 29, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 5 · MT HOUSE

Long-range building appropriations

NoVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 79–19·Substantive·Apr 29, 2025Roll call ↗
SB 40 · MT HOUSE

Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public

YesVOTED

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.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 85–15·Substantive·Apr 29, 2025Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 153 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.