Laura Smith
Montana State Senator, District 40 since 2024. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 4
- 14 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.2%
- Chamber median 0.5%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +7.5
- Won 2024
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Legislative Audit · vice chair
- Criminal Justice Oversight Council
- Education Interim Budget
- Finance and Claims
- Fish and Wildlife
- Legislative Council
- Rules
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Family Law · Became law May 2025
Family Law · Became law Apr 2025
Education - K-12 · Vetoed May 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Smith sits in the Montana State Senate
Smith is closer to the center than 22% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Cora Neumann, Susan Webber, Janet Ellis
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:55 PM ET
With Smith’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats97%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Montana State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Smith’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Smith | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 860: Provide for veterinary training loan program | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 41–9 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 129: Provide income tax benefit to support emergency response volunteers | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 28–22 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | HB 853: Revise fees for licensed establishments | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 29–21 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Smith was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Montana State Senate, District 40 | Won | D+7.5 |
| 2022 | Montana House of Representatives, District 79 | Won | D+21.6 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Smith has held
- Montana State Senate, District 40 · since 2024
- Montana House of Representatives, District 79 · 2022–2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Smith has run against
- Greg L. Guthrie (R) · 2024 general, won
- Keith Pigman (R) · 2022 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Smith
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/51492780-1440-4625-b487-63640ee2b11d
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET