Legislature Proposes 2025 Session Rules

Montana lawmakers avoided another fight over transgender politics while crafting rules for the upcoming 2025 Legislature, saying they didn’t want the distraction.

Members of the Joint Rules Committee narrowly rejected a proposal to limit bathroom access for transgender lawmakers. Several said banning transgender women lawmakers from women’s restrooms in the Capitol would only distract from the Legislature’s business.

Rep. Jerry Schillinger, of Circle, proposed the ban.

“It says what probably shouldn’t need to be said and puts in rules where it shouldn’t need to be put in the rules. But it says...