Legislative Services Division

NCSL Security Grant

• NCSL Legislator Security Fund Reimbursement Claim Form

Interim Compensation Non-Committee

• Includes Education, Legislative Days, and Interstate/Intergovernmental (5-11-305, MCA) Reimbursements
  • Legislator Claim Form – This form must be used for a request to be considered.

Interim Committee Compensation

5-2-302, MCA, – Not in Session

• SB 64 created “Zones” based on the roundtrip mileage a legislator lives from the meeting location.
• Below is an example of a one day meeting.

• • Zone 1 = Remote (Zoom) Participation
    •  One day’s salary
  • Zone 2 = 100 miles or less
    • One day’s salary
    • Round-trip mileage
    • One midday meal
  • Zone 3 = More than 100 miles but less than 400 miles
    • Two days’ salary
    • Round-trip mileage
    • Two days’ meals
    • Two nights’ lodging
  • Zone 4 = 400 miles or more
    • Three days’ salary
    • Round-trip mileage
    • Three days’ meals
    • Two nights’ lodging
• Zone 3 and Zone 4  receive an additional day of meals and an additional night of lodging for each additional consecutive meeting day
• A more in-depth explanation is here.
• A legislator may opt out of any or all entitlements by filling out and submitting an Opt-Out Form based on their zone.
  • Zone 1 (Remote) Opt-Out Form
  • Zone 2 Opt-Out Form
  • Zone 3 Opt-Out Form
  • Zone 4 Opt-Out Form

Rates

Updated as of 07/01/25 (certain rates change annually).

• • Salary – 2025 Interim $128.86/day
  • Meals – $44.10/day: $11.20 (B)/ $13.30 (L)/ $19.60 (D)
  • Lodging, Helena – $132.00 (plus taxes); other locations paid per the GSA rate found here
  • Mileage – 
    • Prior to 7/1/2026 $0.725/mile
    • Effective 7/1/2026 $0.76/mile
  • Private Air Transportation – $1.45/nautical mile

2027 Session Compensation

5-2-301(1), MCA  – In Session

Compensation and expenses for members while in session. (1) For the legislators serving in the legislative session beginning in January 2027, the salary of each legislator must be determined by multiplying 80% times the average hourly wage for the state of Montana, all industry types, posted by the United States bureau of labor statistics from the most recently published quarter of employment and wages data.  The average hourly rate must be calculated by dividing the average weekly wage by 40 hours. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house must receive an additional $5 a day in salary for those days during which the legislature is in session

Resources

Salary Rate History

2025 Session Payments

Session Mileage Form

For more information about salary and compensation, contact Legislative Financial Office.

Constituent Services Allowance

Guidance for Educational Activities

Non-Legislator Committee Member Claim Form

Additional Information

Legislator Per Diem Payments: Are They Taxable Income?