Bringing Big Sky Spirit to Indiana: Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe at the ALEC Annual Meeting

Montana State Representative Kerri Seekins-Crowe may represent just over 10,000 constituents in Yellowstone County, but she carries the concerns of Montana’s working families with her wherever she goes. At ALEC’s 52nd Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, the ALEC State Chair reflected on her path into public service, her recent legislative priorities, and what she hopes to take home from the conference.

“I represent the most important 10,800 people in the state,” she said with a grin.

Her district covers part of Yellowstone County, home to Billings and over 180,000 residents. While some call it Eastern Montana, Seekins-Crowe said with a laugh, “Those truly in eastern Montana say we’re central Montana, but we don’t want to recognize that.”

During a sit-down at ALEC’s 52nd Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Seekins-Crowe shared how her home state is changing, shaped in part by the popularity of the TV series Yellowstone.

“They weren’t afraid of the winters at that time, nor the train station,” she added. “We love our visitors. They wanted to come to a free state and a state that has opportunity.”

Now in her third legislative session, Seekins-Crowe is nearing the end of her time in the Montana House. She’s already considering what comes next, possibly a run for the State Senate.

A former realtor and college instructor who taught business and math, she credits her political awakening to her uncle, a legislator in Alaska, and a well-timed first vote.

“The first president I ever voted for was Ronald Reagan,” she said. “I had no idea about politics, Republican or Democrat, but my uncle set me straight.”

Since then, she’s been focused on results.

This past session, Seekins-Crowe prioritized what she calls her “life, liberty, and Montana way of life or pursuit of happiness” agenda.

That included legislation aimed at supporting women’s athletics, expanding reentry support for formerly incarcerated individuals, and preserving the outdoor culture Montanans cherish.

For “liberty,” she established an Office of Reentry within the Department of Labor to better serve individuals leaving the state’s justice system.

“We were so disjointed across our very large state,” she said. “This gives folks a place to land and a path forward. It also helps coordinate grants and services that had been scattered.”

And when it comes to preserving Montana’s way of life, Seekins-Crowe pointed to her bill directing Pittman-Robertson funds – excise taxes on firearms and ammunition – toward improving the state’s 143 gun and archery ranges.

“That’s a lot of maintenance that needs to happen,” she said. “It’s part of who we are.”

And who Rep. Seekins-Crowe is as a Montana legislator has been shaped by her time at ALEC. From her first legislative session to her most recent, it’s not just the calendar that’s changed – it’s how she approaches the work and what she hopes to accomplish.

“There were only two things I knew for sure,” she said about her first ALEC meeting. “I didn’t know what I was doing, and I wasn’t going to wear a mask.”

Now, she’s focused on becoming more effective with the knowledge she’s gained.

“What do I do with what I do know?” she said. “That’s why being at ALEC matters. I can sit in on task forces, talk with colleagues from across the country, and learn what’s working elsewhere.

“Organizations like this help legislators like me stay grounded in policy and results.”

Whether her next step is the Senate or a return to private life, Seekins-Crowe says her mission remains the same: serve with purpose, defend her constituents, and protect the values that define the Montana way of life.

A mission Gov. Dutton would no doubt support.