Want to track all bills relating to abortion? Or find out who your legislators are, and what they're sponsoring, or how they voted? Or maybe watch an upcoming hearing or debate on TV?
If you have Internet access, it's all at your fingertips - including live TV coverage.
Know your legislator: Click on the “find a legislator” link on the page's left column, and you'll get multiple options for determining your state senator and representative, if you don't already know.
You'll also get a “contact a legislator” link, which shows how you can write, telephone or e-mail your legislators.
Tracking a bill or issue
By clicking on the “Bills” link on the left column, you'll be sent to the Legislature's excellent LAWS bill-tracking system. Choose the “current session” for 2009, or other years for previous sessions.
Once you get to the light-blue-backed bill-tracking page, you can do many things, including:
- Search for bills by sponsor or subject.
- Track a bill, once you know the bill number. A full copy of the latest version of the bill is available, along with hearing schedules and votes when they occur.
If a bill is still in the drafting stages, and you know the “LC” number, you may be able to see the draft, or, at the least, find out the name of the legislative staffer working on the draft. They can be contacted to find out more about what's going on, although it may be easier to contact the legislator who requested the draft.
- Peruse a list of all introduced bills and all requested bill drafts.
- Look at the daily floor schedule for the House or Senate, to see what bills are up for debate.
- Look at hearing schedules for any legislative committee.
Watch proceedings on TV
For the first time, live televised proceedings of the Legislature will be watchable on the Internet, beginning Jan. 5, the first day of the 2009 session. You can access these Web-casts at www.leg.mt.gov/broadcast, using RealPlayer software, which is available for free from the Web site if you don't already have it.
Audio links also are available at the same Web address. All Senate and House floor sessions will be broadcast, as well as selected committee hearings. The address will list which committees are available for the day.
The Legislature also is expanding its live broadcasts on local TV stations, from four cities to 51. Right now, the broadcasts are in Billings, Missoula, Helena and Bozeman. Starting in January, that will be expanded to an additional 47 cities and towns.
Not all of the local stations have been determined yet. You can find out by asking your local cable-TV provider or going to the Web site at www.leg.mt.gov/TVMT.
And, finally, if you have any problems the Legislature's access technology, you can ask questions by calling (406) 444-2957.
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