Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

 
Jedediah Hinkle

Jedediah Hinkle

House of Representatives

District HD-067

Republican

Contact:

Phone: (406) 585-0722
Office: 201 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101

Pro-liberty Votes

Score Session
100% Cumulative
100% 2023 Regular Session 2023 Regular Session
100% 2021 Regular Session 2021 Regular Session
Jedediah Hinkle

Jedediah Hinkle

House of Representatives

District HD-067

Republican

Status: Active Legislator

Contact:

Phone: (406) 585-0722
Office:
201 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101

 

Pro-liberty Votes

Score Session
100% Cumulative
100% 2023 Regular Session 2023 Regular Session
100% 2021 Regular Session 2021 Regular Session

Voting History

Legislative Scorecard Based on the U.S. Constitution

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

Legislative Scorecard

Based on the U.S. Constitution

MT Scorecard 2021-2022

The Legislative Scorecard is a nationwide educational program of The John Birch Society. Its purpose is to create an informed electorate on how state legislators are voting. The Scorecard is nonpartisan; it does not promote any candidate or political party. Bills are selected for their constitutional implications and cost to the taxpayers.

Please share this Scorecard in your district to inform people about your legislator's record on key votes.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment I --- 11 C.F.R. §114(4)(c)(4) --- 616 F.2d 45 (2d Cir. 1980)

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Montana Legislature in 2021-2022 and ranks their State Senators and House Representatives based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our first state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Montana Legislature in 2021-2022 and ranks their State Senators and House Representatives based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.

This is our first state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.

Pro-liberty Vote Pro-liberty vote
Anti-liberty Vote Anti-liberty vote
Did not vote Did not Vote
This legislator voted constitutionally on 100% of the votes shown below.
Yes
Constitutional Vote

HB257 Emergency Orders (Passed 68 to 31 on 4/29/2021). Prohibits emergency orders from restricting the ability of private business to conduct business.

HB257 prohibits emergency orders from restricting the ability of private business to conduct business. It also limits local governments or health officers from certain actions such as issuing fines or revoking licenses.

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB257 on April 29, 2021 by a vote of 68 to 31. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because businesses should not have to comply with draconian orders to shut down businesses during a pandemic.  The Declaration of Independence states that among our rights are "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” and government interference in entrepreneurship is in violation of that belief.

HB257 prohibits emergency orders from restricting the ability of private business to conduct business. It also limits local governments or health officers from certain actions such as issuing fines or revoking licenses, which restricts private business and potentially deters customers.

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB257 on April 29, 2021 by a vote of 68 to 31. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because businesses should not have to comply with draconian orders to shut down businesses during a pandemic or any other emergency by an unelected health officer or health board. Businesses and individual consumers have the freedom to conduct business and to buy products without the government meddling in their affairs. The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” and government interference in entrepreneurship and private business is in violation of that belief.

View vote details at laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0210W$BSIV.ActionQuery?P_BILL_NO1=257&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=HB&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SESS=20211
Yes
Constitutional Vote

HB702 Vaccination Discrimination (Passed 64 to 32 on 4/28/2021).  Prohibits employers from inquiring about the vaccination status of their employees.

HB702 prohibits employers from inquiring about the vaccination status of their employees. Under this law, it is discriminatory for a person or governmental entity to deny someone of local or state services, health care services, or employment opportunities based on an individual’s vaccination status.

 

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB702 on April 28, 2021 by a vote of 64 to 32.  We have assigned pluses to the ayes because an individual’s personal health care decisions should not be the object of government, nor be under its federal, state, or local jurisdictions in the United States. This is a violation of our fundamental rights protected by the U.S. Constitution.

HB702 prohibits employers from inquiring about the vaccination status of their employees. Under this law, it is discriminatory for a person or governmental entity to deny someone of local or state services, health care services, or employment opportunities based on an individual’s vaccination status or if an individual has an immunity passport. However, a healthcare facility may still request an employee to volunteer their vaccination status for the intention of determining accommodation measures to protect the health and safety of their employees and patients, but an individual is still not required to provide that information.

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB702 on April 28, 2021 by a vote of 64 to 32.  We have assigned pluses to the ayes because an individual’s personal health care decisions should not be the object of government, nor be under its federal, state, or local jurisdictions in the United States. Forcing an individual to produce their vaccination status would be a violation of their fundamental rights, freedoms, privileges, or immunities protected by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

View vote details at laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0210W$BSIV.ActionQuery?P_BILL_NO1=702&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=HB&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SESS=20211
Yes
Constitutional Vote

HB176 Voter Registration (Passed 65 to 35 on 3/30/2021). Closes late voter registration at noon the day before the election instead of having same day registration.

HB176 closes late voter registration at noon the day before the election. Since 2005, Montana has had same day late registration and an individual could register or change voter registration information prior to the close of the polls on election day.

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB176 on March 30, 2021 by a vote of 65 to 35. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because same day registration is a threat to election integrity. Same day registration opens the door for errors and illegitimate electors, which compromises the sacredness and integrity of our vote. The 15th amendment guarantees the “right of citizens of the United States to vote.” 

HB176 closes late voter registration at noon the day before the election. Since 2005, Montana has had same day late registration and under the previous state law, an individual could register or change voter registration information prior to the close of the polls on election day. 

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB176 on March 30, 2021 by a vote of 65 to 35. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because same day registration is a threat to election integrity.  Clerks and election officials need more time on election day to focus on the validity of their voter rolls.  Same day registration opens the door for errors and illegitimate electors, which compromises the sacredness and integrity of our vote.  This will reduce wait times at the polls for proven legal voters. The 15th amendment guarantees the “right of citizens of the United States to vote” and ending same day registration can help election officials verify who should and should not be voting in our elections.

View vote details at laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0210W$BSIV.ActionQuery?P_BILL_NO1=176&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=HB&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SESS=20211
Yes
Constitutional Vote

HB570 Nullification (Rejected 47 to 52 on 3/2/2021). Prohibits infringement of Montana’s constitutional right to nullify any federal statute, mandate, or executive order that may be considered unconstitutional.

HB570 prohibits infringement of Montana’s constitutional right to nullify any federal statute, mandate, or executive order that may be considered unconstitutional.

The Montana State House of Representatives failed to pass HB570 on March 2, 2021 by a vote of 47 to 52. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because under article VI of the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and every state is bound by oath to support it. Ultimately, states have a duty to nullify any infringements by the federal government and Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution gives congress specific powers and if there are violations of those powers, then states have a right to not comply.

HB570 prohibits infringement of Montana’s constitutional right to nullify any federal statute, mandate, or executive order that may be considered unconstitutional.

The Montana State House of Representatives failed to pass HB570 on March 2, 2021 by a vote of 47 to 52. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because under article VI of the U.S. Constitution, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and every state is bound by oath to support it. Ultimately, states have a duty to nullify any infringements by the federal government and Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution gives congress specific powers and if there are violations of those powers, then states have a right to not comply.

View vote details at laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0210W$BSIV.ActionQuery?P_BILL_NO1=570&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=HB&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SESS=20211
Yes
Constitutional Vote

HB121 Health Board Accountability (Passed 68 to 31 on 3/1/2021). Ensures that local health board are more accountable to elected officials.

HB121 ensures that local health boards are held more accountable to elected officials such as city councils or county boards by approving, denying, or amending rules or regulations proposed by unelected health boards.

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB121 on March 1, 2021 by a vote of 68 to 31. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because a non-elected bureaucratic local health board should not have the authority to shut down or regulate businesses and churches. Our founding fathers believed that checks and balances in government are essential to keeping our elected officials in check with the Constitution to prevent any unconstitutional government overreach.

HB121 ensures that local health boards are held more accountable to elected officials such as city councils or county boards by approving, denying, or amending rules or regulations proposed by unelected health boards.

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB121 on March 1, 2021 by a vote of 68 to 31. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because a non-elected bureaucratic local health board should not have the authority to shut down or regulate businesses and churches. Our founding fathers believed that checks and balances in government are essential to keeping our elected officials in check with the Constitution to prevent any unconstitutional government overreach.

View vote details at laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0210W$BSIV.ActionQuery?P_BILL_NO1=121&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=HB&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SESS=20211
Yes
Constitutional Vote

HB258 Gun Rights - Nullification (Passed 66 to 33 on 2/27/2021). Prohibits government entities from allocating funds or using resources to enforce unconstitutional federal gun bans.

HB258 prohibits enforcement of unconstitutional federal bans or regulations on firearms, magazines, ammunition or firearm accessories. Peace officers, state employees, or governing bodies are prohibited from allocating funds or using any other means of assistance in the enforcement of an unconstitutional federal ban.

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB258 on February 27, 2021 by a vote of 66 to 33. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. Furthermore, under Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, states have a duty to nullify infringements by the federal government.

HB258 prohibits enforcement of unconstitutional federal bans or regulations on firearms, magazines, ammunition or firearm accessories. Peace officers, state employees, or governing bodies are prohibited from allocating funds or using any other means of assistance in the enforcement of an unconstitutional federal ban.

The Montana State House of Representatives passed HB258 on February 27, 2021 by a vote of 66 to 33. We have assigned the pluses to the ayes because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. Furthermore, under Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, states have a duty to nullify infringements by the federal government.

View vote details at laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW0210W$BSIV.ActionQuery?P_BILL_NO1=258&P_BLTP_BILL_TYP_CD=HB&Z_ACTION=Find&P_SESS=20211
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