Committee Chairs Assigned for Montana Legislature
By Keila Szpaller for the Daily Montanan
Who’s on first?
Before any bills get signed into law or tossed out, they’re heard in committees of the Montana Legislature, and the chairs of those groups hold power. They decide what priorities to set, when to take action, and how much to listen to the public — and legislators from the other side of the aisle.
Longtime state budget mastermind Representative Llew Jones, of Conrad, will again steer Appropriations, and the super-sausage-wrangling Senate Judiciary will be led by Senator Barry Usher, of Billings.
Here’s a full list of the legislators, all Republicans, leading the 2025 Montana Legislature’s Senate, House and joint committees, from the Legislative Services Division:
Senate Committees
Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation: Bruce Gillespie, Ethridge
Business, Labor and Economic Affairs: Mark Noland, Bigfork
Education and Cultural Resources: John Fuller, Kalispell
Energy and Telecommunications: Daniel Zolnikov, Billings
Executive Review: Jason Ellsworth: Hamilton
Finance and Claims: Carl Glimm, Kila
Fish and Game: Denley Loge, St. Regis
Highways and Transportation: Russ Tempel, Chester
Judiciary: Barry Usher, Billings
Local Government: Forrest Mandeville, Columbus
Natural Resources: Wylie Galt, Martinsdale
Public Health, Welfare and Safety: Dennis Lenz, Billings
State Administration: Theresa Manzella, Hamilton
Taxation: Greg Hertz, Polson
Joint Appropriations/Finance and Claims
These joint subcommittees are led by the following representatives:
General Government (A): Terry Falk, Kalispell
Health and Human Services (B): Jane Gillette, Three Forks
Natural Resources and Transportation (C): Jerry Schillinger, Circle
Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement and Justice (D): Fiona Nave, Columbus
Education (D): David Bedey, Hamilton
Long Range Planning (F): John Fitzpatrick, Anaconda
House Committees
Agriculture: Mitchell Braxton, Columbia Falls
Appropriations: Llew Jones, Conrad
Business and Labor: Ed Buttrey, Great Falls
Education: Linda Reksten, Polson
Energy, Technology and Federal Relations: Gary Parry, Colstrip
Fish, Wildlife and Parks: Jedediah Hinkle, Belgrade
Human Services: Ron Marshall, Hamilton
Judiciary: Amy Regier, Kalispell
Local Government: Larry Brewster, Billings
Natural Resources: Steve Gist, Cascade
State Administration: Julie Darling, Helena
Taxation: Paul Fielder, Thompson Falls
Transportation: Neil Duram, Eureka
On-Call Senate Committees
Committee on Committees: Glimm
Ethics: Sue Vinton, Billings
Legislative Administration: Vince Ricci, Billings
Rules: Tom McGillvray, Billings
On-Call House Committees
Ethics: Katie Zolnikov, Billings
Legislative Administration: George Nikolakakos, Great Falls
Rules: Steve Fitzpatrick, Great Falls