SJ 24 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Joint resolution supporting the national popular vote initiative

This resolution recommends Montana join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would direct the state to award all 3 of its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes nationwide. If adopted, Montana would shift from its current system (where electoral votes are awarded based on state-level results) to a method aligning with the national popular vote in future elections. The compact requires states controlling 270 electoral votes to join before taking effect, and as of 2024, 17 states plus D.C. have joined with 209 electoral votes. The resolution does not change Montana's current voting rules but proposes a future shift in how its electoral votes are allocated.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 27, 2025 Last action May 23, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC4286.pdf → SJ0024_1.pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from LC 4286 to SJ 24 and expanded to include five new co-sponsors. The text was reorganized to add a new 'Whereas' clause stating that the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact will take effect once 209 electoral votes are secured, and a new clause clarifying that the state legislature has the power to join the compact without a constitutional amendment. These changes strengthen the justification for the bill and broaden its support base.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same (supporting the National Popular Vote), but the supporting arguments were expanded to include specific thresholds for the compact's activation and the legal authority for Montana to join.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new clause specifying that the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact takes effect when 209 electoral votes are pledged.

DEFINITION

Added a new clause citing Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution as the legal basis for the state legislature to award electoral votes.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from 'Joint Resolution No. __' to 'Senate Joint Resolution No. 24' and updated the sponsor list to include five new legislators.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 3, 2025

Amended

(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) State Administration

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

(S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Introduced

(S) Introduced

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors