james REAVIS

I have lived in Montana for most of my life and I am proud to call Billings home. I was born and raised in the hard-working and union-supporting city of Butte, America. My mother operates a 200-head cattle ranch outside of Boulder, and my father is a retired architect who specialized in preserving our historic buildings.

After obtaining a law degree from the University of Montana, earning a Master’s in Public Administration, and passing the bar, I went to work as a public defender. I served as a public defender for eleven years. Each day I worked to ensure the liberties and freedoms we enjoy under the Constitution are protected. I recently entered private practice to work in criminal defense in state and federal court. I am a small business owner and am invested in how our government spends our taxes.

With my experience in public service and my knowledge of the criminal justice system, I began testifying before the Legislature in support of common-sense reforms. I also helped legislators write the legal language to bring their policies into law. In the 2023 session, I drafted and helped pass legislation that protected children from sexual assault and removed red tape in state government. In the 2025 session as a state representative, I passed bills that stopped the practice of shackling pregnant mothers during childbirth, improved the ability to secure a public defender, brought awareness to frontotemporal degeneration, filed a successful floor amendment to protect the rights of people facing involuntary commitment, and co-sponsored legislation that established Montana’s first anti-SLAPP law to protect citizen advocates from frivolous lawsuits because of their speech.

I am running for re-election because there is far more that needs to be done in Montana to make it a better place for our families. I have the experience, legal background, and energy to represent everyday Montanans. I want to improve your standard of living in the Treasure State. As my voting record reflects, I have been an independent voice follows the facts, not the party. I will listen to you.

If you live in Billings and you own a dog, then you probably know my fiancé, Amanda. She’s been grooming, cleaning, and cutting dog hair for years. I am so very lucky to have her in my life.