The Bill Explorer tool is designed to help you easily search, track, and explore legislation throughout the Montana legislative process. Whether you’re a citizen, researcher, or policymaker, Bill Explorer offers the functionality you need to stay informed about bills that matter to you.
Key Features
Use keywords or bill numbers to find specific bills. The search bar supports:
- Bill number (e.g., SB 100, HB 250)
- Keywords related to the bill’s content or title (e.g., “education”, “environment”)
- Legislator name (find bills sponsored by a specific lawmaker)
Refine your search results using powerful filters. You can filter by:
- Session: Select the legislative session year
- Status: View bills that are introduced, in committee, passed, or enacted
- Category: Narrow your results by policy areas (e.g., education, healthcare)
- Sponsors: See bills sponsored by specific legislators or committees
For each bill, view a timeline of actions, including:
- Introduction to the House or Senate
- Committee referrals
- Amendments
- Votes and passage
- Signed by the Governor or vetoed
Receive real-time updates on any action taken on bills you’re interested in.
Export bill details, including text, status, amendments, and votes, to share or archive. Available formats include PDF and CSV.
To print or download the Bill or LC Text, use the ellipsis ( … ) icon on this tab: 
Excel
- Select the column(s) you want to change
- Go to Home > Cells > Format
- Under Cell Size, select AutoFit Column Width
Google Sheets
Below are the steps to adjust and autofit column width in Google Sheets:
- Select the column (or columns) that you want to autofit
- Right-click on any of the selected columns.
- Click the Resize Columns option
- In the Resize Column dialog box that opens, select the Fit to Data option & Click OK
Column Resize Shortcut
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Alt + H + O + I to autofit column width in both Google Sheets & Excel.
Convert URL To Link
To turn a URL in Excel or Google Sheets into a clickable link by simply double-clicking on it, you don’t need to do anything else special.
Dive into specific bill details, such as:
- Full text of the bill
- Amendments and versions
- Fiscal notes (impact assessments)
- Voting records
- Legislative sponsors and co-sponsors
- Related legislation or subjects
Create an account to subscribe to email alerts on bill actions. You’ll receive updates when:
- A bill moves to a new committee
- Votes are scheduled or taken
- Amendments are introduced
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Getting Help
If you need assistance using the Bill Explorer, you can contact the Montana Legislature IT Support team.
For more detailed information on Montana’s legislative process, visit the Legislative Process Overview.