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Step 2: Incorporate Constituent Input
If a bill passes the L.I.F.T. Principles test (indicating a potential YES), I next turn to you—the constituents. Your input is the most valuable factor in how I vote.
I represent you, and I need to hear from you. I’m known for calling constituents directly—don’t be surprised if I reach out!
The most efficient ways to share your thoughts are to call, text, email, or post on my social media.
How a vote is cast…
Shane's 3-Step Process for Evaluating Bills and Casting Votes
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Step 1: The L.I.F.T. Principles
I start with this straightforward but essential litmus test:
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L = Limited Government
I believe in limited government. If a bill proposes to increase the size of government, it’s an automatic NO.
There may be valid reasons to expand government, but they must be well-prepared, clearly presented, and thoroughly understood.
I believe government should shrink in physical size and reduce its regulatory burden. Let’s get government out of the way! -
I = Individual Liberties
Any bill that reduces individual liberties is an immediate NO. This includes any infringement on the 2nd Amendment.
Government should stay out of personal matters and avoid mandating behaviors that make people less free. Let’s increase individual liberties! -
F = Free Enterprise
Any bill that hinders free enterprise is an immediate NO. When government subsidizes certain sectors or throws money at problems, free enterprise suffers.
Government’s proper role is to create a regulatory environment where private businesses can thrive. Let’s not pick winners and losers—let the free market do that. -
T = Timeless Truths
Any bill that seeks to change unchangeable truths is a NO. In the 2025 69th Montana Legislative Session, these bills often centered on basic biology: boys are boys, girls are girls. A person of one biological sex cannot become the other, no matter how much affirmation is given.
If a bill fails any of these principles, my vote is NO.
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Step 3: My Conscience (When Necessary)
I prefer not to reach this step. If I do, it means I haven’t received sufficient constituent input on the bill.
In that case, I vote according to my conscience. I live in this community and have a strong sense of how most people here think about the issues. I’m not afraid to stand on principle.
That said: If I vote contrary to how you wanted and you didn’t provide input, we both have to live with that outcome. Your voice matters—please make it heard!
This process helps ensure my votes align with conservative principles, your priorities, and the best interests of our district.
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Issues
These are important current issues that Shane is taking a position on.
Taxation: Protecting Montana’s Agricultural Heritage
from Unfair Tax Pressures
Montana’s farmers and ranchers and the communities they live near form the backbone of our economy, yet they’ve been hit hardest by sudden spikes in property valuations and shifting tax rules. During the 69th Legislative Session, two major tax reform bills—House Bill 231 and Senate Bill 542—brought both relief and new challenges for those who work the land and for those who provide necessary support.
Senate Bill 542, known as the Property Tax Cap Act, provided much-needed breathing room for agricultural producers and homeowners. After years of rising assessments, the bill established a statewide limit on property tax growth, protecting family operations from being taxed off their land and homeowners from being taxed out of their homes. For many rural counties, this reform means greater stability and predictability in annual taxes—critical for planning crops, equipment purchases, and succession.
However, local governments warned that the cap could reduce funding for rural roads, volunteer fire districts, and extension programs that farmers rely on. That’s why ongoing cooperation between the state and local communities is essential—to make sure the burden never shifts away from the taxpayer only to fall back through weakened services.
House Bill 231’s changes to the income tax code had more limited direct effects but did alter deductions and credits that matter for incorporated farm operations. Larger producers saw moderate gains, while smaller family farms experienced mixed results depending on income structure.
Agricultural land remains a pillar of Montana’s identity. True reform must ensure stability without sacrificing fairness or essential rural infrastructure. The work from the 69th Legislature is a strong first step, but continuing to protect productive land—and those who steward it—must remain a top priority.
I am skeptical!
Montana Statewide Public Safety Communications System
The Montana Statewide Public Safety Communications System is projected to exhaust all appropriated funds by July 1, 2027. The Local Government Interim Committee is currently studying the issue to thoroughly examine the funding shortfall and identify sustainable solutions to ensure continued funding.
This system is critical to the operations of all first responders across Montana. Without adequate future funding, basic maintenance will stop, leading to inevitable equipment failures and compromised public safety.
The current annual funding level of $3.75 million was established in 2019. Adjusted for inflation (using U.S. CPI data, which shows roughly 27% cumulative increase from 2019 to late 2025/2026), this amount would need to rise to approximately $4.75–$4.8 million per year to provide the same level of maintenance and support.
Another key issue uncovered during our review is funding for 911 dispatch centers statewide. Equipment maintenance and upgrades for these centers rely on the $1.00 surcharge added to monthly cell phone and landline bills. This fee—unchanged for years—has not kept pace with inflation or rising costs. As a result, many dispatch centers struggle to maintain fully functional, reliable equipment.
No one wants an emergency call to go unanswered because of outdated or failed equipment. The Local Government Interim Committee remains committed to exploring and securing long-term, reliable funding solutions for both the statewide communications system and local 911 operations.
Your input and support are vital as we work to protect public safety across Montana.
For more details, please review the full document here: Statewide Emergency Communication System
Why I’m Supporting Judge Dan Wilson for
Montana Supreme Court
As your representative, I want to share why I’m endorsing Judge Dan Wilson for Associate Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court - and why this race matters more than most people realize.
Most Montanans don’t spend much time thinking about judicial philosophy, but it determines how our constitutional rights are protected. Judge Wilson is an originalist - he believes judges should interpret our Constitution based on what the text actually says and what it meant when it was written, not based on their personal policy preferences.
This isn’t about being “conservative” or “liberal.” It’s about whether judges follow the law or make it up as they go.
During the COVID pandemic, we saw government at every level expand its power in unprecedented ways. While serving as a district judge in the Kalispell area, Judge Wilson issued rulings against government overreach, defending individual liberty and constitutional limits on state power.
When businesses were shut down, when families couldn’t gather, when government mandates threatened livelihoods - Judge Wilson applied the Constitution as written. He didn’t rule based on what was politically convenient or popular. He ruled based on what the law actually said.
That takes courage and principle.
The Montana Supreme Court makes decisions that affect your property rights, your business, your family, and your freedoms. Judges who believe in original intent respect the constitutional boundaries that protect citizens from government overreach.
Judges who view the Constitution as a “living document” that can be reinterpreted based on current trends open the door to judicial activism - where judges impose their policy preferences instead of applying the law.
Rural Montana especially needs judges who understand that constitutional protections exist for a reason. Our way of life, our agricultural heritage, our property rights, and our individual freedoms depend on judges who won’t bend the Constitution to fit political agendas.
I’m asking you to vote for Judge Dan Wilson. Research his record. You’ll find a judge with integrity, experience, and a commitment to the rule of law.
Judicial races often get overlooked, but they’re critically important. The judges we elect today will shape Montana law for decades.
If you have questions about Judge Wilson or this race, please reach out to me. And please - don’t skip the judicial races on your ballot. They matter.