A lobbyist represents a client’s interests before the Montana Legislature and state agencies, working to promote, oppose, or amend legislation and regulation. In practice this means tracking bills relevant to a client, testifying in committee hearings, briefing legislators on how proposals would affect an industry or organization, negotiating amendments, and advising clients on strategy and timing throughout the session.

In Montana, lobbying also extends beyond the Legislature to administrative rulemaking, agency decisions, and procurement.

The Montana Legislature meets in regular session every odd-numbered year for no more than 90 legislative days. Sessions convene on the first Monday in January — unless January 1 falls on a Monday, in which case the session begins the first Wednesday.

The next regular session begins in January 2027. Between sessions, interim committees meet to study issues and draft legislation, which is often where the most consequential work happens.

You must register with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices if you receive payments of $3,000 or more in a calendar year to promote, oppose, or modify legislation on behalf of a principal. Registration is done by filing Form L-1 within five business days after entering the agreement to receive those payments.

Organizations that hire lobbyists — called principals — have their own registration and reporting obligations. Both lobbyists and principals file periodic activity reports disclosing spending.

Requirements change, so verify current thresholds and deadlines with the Commissioner of Political Practices before relying on any figure.

Lobbying is direct communication with legislators and officials to influence policy. Grassroots advocacy mobilizes constituents, members, or the general public to communicate with those officials themselves.

The two work best together. A legislator hearing a well-reasoned argument from a lobbyist *and* hearing from constituents in their own district receives a far more persuasive case than either channel delivers alone.

Engage well before the session convenes — ideally during the interim, several months to a year ahead. Bill drafting, interim committee work, and relationship-building all happen before January, and by the time a session starts the agenda is largely set.

Organizations that wait until session begins are usually reacting to legislation rather than shaping it.

A ballot initiative lets Montana voters enact statutes or amend the state constitution directly, bypassing the Legislature. Sponsors draft the measure, obtain approval of the ballot language, gather signatures from registered voters across a required number of legislative districts, and then campaign for passage at the general election.

Initiative campaigns are demanding — they combine legal drafting, a signature-gathering operation, fundraising, and a full public campaign, usually on a fixed statutory timeline.

The Montana Group is located at 1820 N Last Chance Gulch, Helena, Montana 59601 — in the state capital, minutes from the Capitol building. The firm can be reached at (406) 495-8383.

Yes. The firm regularly represents national companies and organizations that need Montana-specific expertise and an on-the-ground presence in Helena.

Out-of-state clients often face the steepest learning curve: Montana’s political culture, its citizen legislature, and its geography make it substantially different from larger states, and strategies that work elsewhere frequently do not translate.

Yes. The firm has managed five successful initiative campaigns, including the two most recent successful constitutional amendments passed in Montana — CI-116 in 2016 and CI-105 in 2010. Chuck Denowh managed the CI-116 campaign, which passed with 65 percent of the vote, and led the opposition to I-185, defeated by a 53-47 margin.

Yes. The firm provides full campaign management for candidates and ballot initiatives, including campaign planning, fundraising, communications, and field operations.

Recent campaign work includes U.S. Senator Steve Daines in 2014 and 2020, Congressman Matt Rosendale in 2020 and 2022, and Montana Chief Justice Cory Swanson in 2024.

Association management means handling the operational work of a trade association or membership organization — member communications and recruitment, public relations, and event management. The Montana Group offers this as a standalone service or alongside lobbying representation.

Yes. The firm has helped create dozens of advocacy organizations, ranging from short-term efforts built to achieve a single policy objective to sustained groups that have shaped public opinion over many years.

Most lobbyists work on a retainer arrangment for ongoing representation, project-based fees for a single session or campaign, with cost depending on scope, issue complexity, and duration.

Contact The Montana Group at (406) 495-8383 to discuss scope and pricing.

Call (406) 495-8383 or email the firm to arrange an initial conversation about your policy goals, timeline, and the issues you’re facing. The firm will outline a recommended approach and scope of work.