Senator Alan Olson (R-Roundup) has introduced SB-408, a 64-page bill that, boiled down to its essence, replaces Montana’s current partisan primary system (Presidential primaries excepted) with a top two primary similar to those found in California and Washington.
HB-436, which would have created a top two primary system in Montana, was tabled today in the MT House’s state administration committee. As of 1440 MST, the votes of the members of the committee had not been published on the legislature’s website, but the Missoulian reported the vote was 16–3. We’ll publish the names of the top two three when they become available. — James Conner
Rep. Scott Reichner (R-Bigork), author of HB-436, which would inflict a modified Louisiana style top two primary on Montana, presented his bill to the Montana House of Representative’s state administration committee early on the morning of Tuesday, 19 February. The hearing (audio) was broadcast on public access television, so I was able to watch it in Kalispell.
The committee’s chair, Rep. Pat Ingraham (R-Thompson Falls) indicated the committee would discuss and probably vote on the bill on Thursday, 21 February, so there is still time to submit comments.