Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Montana
JE
Votes with Republicans
91%
on 1,082 party-line votes · Senate Republicans median 91%
Cast a vote
99%
Yea or Nay on 3,158 of 3,174 roll calls · Senate median 99%
Their bills that became law
11 of 21
as a primary sponsor, this session · Republicans median 8
Roll calls on record
3,174
2025 Regular Session
Votes and bills updated Oct 5, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 2025 Regular Session.
How John Esp votes
A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.
Where John Esp sits in the Senate
Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. John Esp is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
92 of 1,082 party-line votes, most recent 10 shown.
HJ65 · Request interim study of DUI
(S) 3rd Reading Failed · 2025-04-30 · Failed 24–26 · most Republicans voted the other way
HJ47 · Study resolution on local government entity cooperation
(S) 3rd Reading Concurred · 2025-04-30 · Passed 33–16 · most Republicans voted the other way
HJ50 · Interim study of uniform common interest ownership laws
(S) 3rd Reading Concurred · 2025-04-30 · Passed 31–19 · most Republicans voted the other way
HJ62 · Study resolution on wildfire safety
(S) 2nd Reading Concurred · 2025-04-29 · Passed 28–22 · most Republicans voted the other way
HJ65 · Request interim study of DUI
(S) 2nd Reading Concurred · 2025-04-29 · Passed 27–22 · most Republicans voted the other way
HJ50 · Interim study of uniform common interest ownership laws
(S) 2nd Reading Concurred · 2025-04-29 · Passed 27–21 · most Republicans voted the other way
HJ47 · Study resolution on local government entity cooperation
(S) 2nd Reading Concurred · 2025-04-29 · Passed 32–17 · most Republicans voted the other way
HJ55 · Study resolution on property management licensing and practice
(S) 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed · 2025-04-29 · Failed 24–26 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB856 · Revise incumbent vacancy in office laws
(S) 3rd Reading Failed · 2025-04-28 · Failed 22–27 · most Republicans voted the other way
HB856 · Revise incumbent vacancy in office laws
(S) 3rd Reading Concurred · 2025-04-28 · Failed 22–27 · most Republicans voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
SB324 · Revise vehicle registration fees and allocate revenue for bridges and victims of crime
(S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Rejected · 2025-04-30 · Failed 25–25
HJ51 · Request interim study on special education
(S) 3rd Reading Failed · 2025-04-30 · Failed 25–25
HJ58 · Request interim study on increasing impact of school counselors
(S) 2nd Reading Pass Motion Failed · 2025-04-29 · Failed 24–24
HB116 · Provide for attorneys to appear remotely
(S) 2nd Reading Pass Motion Failed · 2025-04-29 · Failed 25–25
HJ71 · Study resolution of the impact of federal funding changes on DEQ
(S) 2nd Reading Pass Motion Failed · 2025-04-29 · Failed 25–25
Democrats they vote with most
Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.
Dave FernDemocrat · District 2 · 1,643 shared contested votes
40%
Sara NovakDemocrat · District 36 · 1,668 shared contested votes
35%
Derek HarveyDemocrat · District 37 · 1,676 shared contested votes
34%
Their session, month by month
Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (16 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Montana Delegation
NayYeaNayYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaNayNayNayNayYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaNayNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaYeaNayYeaNayYeaNayNayYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills John Esp was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced21
Out of committee14
Passed one chamber14
Passed both chambers12
Became law11
Never left committee0
For comparison, the median Republican member of the Senate has 8 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Local Government 12City Subjects 11County Subjects 11Counties 6Planning and Development 6Cities and Towns 5
Study resolution on the creation or alteration of local government entities
Failed(H) Died in Standing Committee · 2025-05-23
Require employers to use e-verify for employment eligibility
Failed(S) Died in Process · 2025-05-23
Allow antique gambling to be used for living history events and casino nights for fundraising purposes
Failed(S) Died in Process · 2025-05-23
Providing that the default retirement plan for legislators is the defined contribution plan through PERS
Failed(S) Died in Process · 2025-05-23
Revise laws related to election administrator compensation
Failed(S) Died in Process · 2025-05-23
Allowing emergency permitting authority during an emergency
Failed(S) Died in Process · 2025-05-23
Revising the actuarially determined employer contribution rate and setting a minimum contribution rate
Failed(S) Died in Process · 2025-05-23
Revise county zoning to allow accessory dwelling units
Became lawChapter Number Assigned · 2025-05-16
Providing that recreational vehicles and mobile homes are reviewed as buildings for rent or lease
Became lawChapter Number Assigned · 2025-05-16
Requiring judges to invite amicus briefing and allow intervention in certain civil cases
Vetoed(S) Vetoed by Governor · 2025-05-12
Exempt subdivision, water/sewer plans from environmental review
Became lawChapter Number Assigned · 2025-05-08
Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.
Loading committees…
HJ26 · 2025-04-30
Study guardianships and conservatorships ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ61 · 2025-04-30
Interim study on the property insurance market in Montana ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ60 · 2025-04-30
Interim study on the effects and regulation of kratom ((S) 3rd Reading Failed)
HJ62 · 2025-04-30
Study resolution on wildfire safety ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HB513 · 2025-04-30
Revise laws related to use of name, voice, and likeness of individuals and penalties for unauthorized use ((S) 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted)
SB319 · 2025-04-30
Generally revise health care laws related to doulas ((S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
SB324 · 2025-04-30
Revise vehicle registration fees and allocate revenue for bridges and victims of crime ((S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Rejected)
HB682 · 2025-04-30
Generally revise laws regarding gender transition treatment ((S) 3rd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HB381 · 2025-04-30
Provide for educational credit for students volunteering in long term care, nursing home, home care, and child care settings ((S) 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted)
HB329 · 2025-04-30
Make the Montana ammunition act permanent ((S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HB818 · 2025-04-30
Ban foreign funding for ballot measures ((S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
SB446 · 2025-04-30
Revise laws related to healthcare utilization review ((S) 3rd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HB231 · 2025-04-30
Revise property tax rates for certain property ((S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
SB542 · 2025-04-30
Generally revise property tax laws ((S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
SB40 · 2025-04-30
Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public ((S) 3rd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted)
SB472 · 2025-04-30
Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process ((S) 3rd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HJ74 · 2025-04-30
Study resolution analyzing water re-use in the state ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ50 · 2025-04-30
Interim study of uniform common interest ownership laws ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ47 · 2025-04-30
Study resolution on local government entity cooperation ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HB117 · 2025-04-30
Establish criminal justice data warehouse priorities ((S) 3rd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HJ65 · 2025-04-30
Request interim study of DUI ((S) 3rd Reading Failed)
HJ42 · 2025-04-30
Interim study on procurement, no-bid contracts, and transparency on no-bid purchases ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ44 · 2025-04-30
Interim study of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and water quality ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ48 · 2025-04-30
Interim study on moving the date of the primary election ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ55 · 2025-04-30
Study resolution on property management licensing and practice ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ52 · 2025-04-30
Interim study on the Montana cattle industry ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ51 · 2025-04-30
Request interim study on special education ((S) 3rd Reading Failed)
SB524 · 2025-04-30
Revise laws relating to category D assisted living facilities ((S) 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HJ26 · 2025-04-29
Study guardianships and conservatorships ((S) 3rd Reading Failed)
SB424 · 2025-04-29
Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program ((S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House)
SB535 · 2025-04-29
Revise laws related to experimental treatments ((S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House)
SB253 · 2025-04-29
Revise administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations ((S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House)
HJ61 · 2025-04-29
Interim study on the property insurance market in Montana ((S) 2nd Reading Concurred)
HB513 · 2025-04-29
Revise laws related to use of name, voice, and likeness of individuals and penalties for unauthorized use ((S) 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HJ60 · 2025-04-29
Interim study on the effects and regulation of kratom ((S) 2nd Reading Concurred)
SB93 · 2025-04-29
Revise income taxes related to retired military members ((S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House)
SB319 · 2025-04-29
Generally revise health care laws related to doulas ((S) 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HJ45 · 2025-04-29
Interim study on the impact collateral consequences have on criminal record expungement ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HB116 · 2025-04-29
Provide for attorneys to appear remotely ((S) Taken from Committee; Placed on 2nd Reading)
HB682 · 2025-04-29
Generally revise laws regarding gender transition treatment ((S) 2nd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HJ40 · 2025-04-29
Interim study on transferring fiscal note production from executive branch to legislative branch ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
SB218 · 2025-04-29
Provide for private right of action for injuries caused by certain medical interventions to treat gender dysphoria ((S) 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted)
SB537 · 2025-04-29
Generally revise marijuana tax laws ((S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House)
HB381 · 2025-04-29
Provide for educational credit for students volunteering in long term care, nursing home, home care, and child care settings ((S) 2nd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted)
HJ30 · 2025-04-29
Study resolution on incentivizing housing density and affordability ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ28 · 2025-04-29
Interim study to identify and improve access to federal grant opportunities for the state of Montana, tribal governments, and local government entities ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ23 · 2025-04-29
Interim study on youth court laws ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HB446 · 2025-04-29
Revise indecent exposure laws ((S) 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted)
HJ32 · 2025-04-29
Interim study of advanced investigator qualifications for law enforcement ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ52 · 2025-04-29
Interim study on the Montana cattle industry ((S) 2nd Reading Concurred)
HB818 · 2025-04-29
Ban foreign funding for ballot measures ((S) 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
SB446 · 2025-04-29
Revise laws related to healthcare utilization review ((S) 2nd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HJ51 · 2025-04-29
Request interim study on special education ((S) 2nd Reading Concurred)
HB76 · 2025-04-29
Generally revise laws related to the board of behavioral health ((S) 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted)
SB326 · 2025-04-29
Generally revise laws related to MEDIA Act film tax credits ((S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House)
SB40 · 2025-04-29
Revise supreme court public records laws by opening deliberations and files to the public ((S) 2nd Reading Free Conference Committee Report Adopted)
HB271 · 2025-04-29
Provide that there is a limited executive privilege to the public records act ((S) 3rd Reading Concurred)
HJ58 · 2025-04-29
Request interim study on increasing impact of school counselors ((S) 2nd Reading Pass Motion Failed)
HJ58 · 2025-04-29
Request interim study on increasing impact of school counselors ((S) 2nd Reading Indefinitely Postponed)
SB524 · 2025-04-29
Revise laws relating to category D assisted living facilities ((S) 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 3174 total roll-call votes this session).
Follow John Esp
One email a week, only when there’s something: every time they broke with their party, and the closest votes they cast. Free, and you can stop any time.