Click any of the articles below to read the most recent news about Montana politics and elections.
Montana Politics Latest
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MT State Prison agrees to reform mental health procedures
Disability Rights Montana says they’ve reached a settlement agreement with the Montana Department of Corrections which will restrict the use of solitary confinement and reform care for inmates with severe mental illness.
Montana Supreme Court issues rules for expunging marijuana convictions
The Montana Supreme Court has laid out temporary rules to establish procedures for expunging or revising marijuana-related convictions.
Top election races set as candidate filing closes in Montana
The candidate filing deadline for Montana’s 2022 elections has passed, and we’re now getting a full, official picture of who’s running.
Prominent Montana Libertarian Ron Vandevender has died
Prominent Montana Libertarian Ron Vandevender passed away on Thursday, March 10 according to his family. He was 63 years old.
Williams sworn in as director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Martha Williams, the former director of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, was sworn in as director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Federal court rules that Montana's PSC districts are unconstitutional
A federal court ruled Tuesday that Montana’s electoral districts that are used to elect Public Service Commissioners are unconstitutional.
Montana's elected leaders react to President banning Russian oil
President Biden announced Tuesday a U.S. ban on Russian oil imports due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Montana leaders push for energy action as war in Ukraine continues
The ongoing war in Ukraine has been at the center of attention on Capitol Hill this week, including for Montana’s elected leaders.
Rosendale defends 'no' vote on a resolution supporting the people of Ukraine
Montana Congressman Matt Rosendale is defending his move as one of just three representatives, all Republicans, to vote against a resolution in support of the people of Ukraine.
Daines and Tester call on Biden to increase domestic oil and gas production
Montana’s U.S. senators have called upon President Biden to reconsider the Keystone XL Pipeline project and increase domestic energy production following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
MTN Chief Political Reporter Mike Dennison announces retirement
After a more than three-decade career in journalism, MTN Chief Political Reporter Mike Dennison is hanging up his notepad and officially retiring.
A dozen lawsuits challenging GOP laws in Montana are still alive
Nerison told MTN News that most of the lawsuits are an attempt by Democrats and their allies to undo their political losses -
State submits its PSC district map – but says it shouldn’t be adopted
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen submitted the state’s proposed new Public Service Commission electoral districts this week, in response to a lawsuit claiming the current districts are unconstitutional – but said it shouldn’t be adopted.
State promises ‘transparent’ process for dispensing broadband funds
As the state determines who and where will benefit from $500 million-plus of investment to expand high-speed Internet in Montana, a handful of people will be making the decisions – and they’ll be doing it very soon.
Will Montana bridge ‘digital divide’ with millions in federal dollars for Internet?
This month, Montana began the process for awarding $266 million in federal funds to install high-speed Internet access into the state’s rural and suburban unserved areas – but will this huge investment, and more, build a system that can stand the test of time?
Special session off the table, as GOP lawmakers can’t reach agreement
A special session of the Montana Legislature in the coming weeks appears off the table, after Republican lawmakers pushing for the event said Friday they can’t forge an agreement on redrawing Montana’s Public Service Commission electoral districts for 2022.
Department of the Interior IG report says Zinke ‘misused’ his position in Whitefish development
Report says investigators found no evidence that Zinke took part in any “official matters” related to the land development project
Montana lawmakers push for special session on PSC districts and elections
A group of Republican lawmakers is pushing for a special legislative session as soon as February 28
Helena hospital: 'On our way' to compliance with federal vaccine mandate
In 24 states – including Montana – Monday, Feb. 14 is the day that a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers is set to go into effect. Leaders with St. Peter’s Health say they’re “well on our way” to being in compliance.
Racicot condemns RNC censure of Cheney and Kinzinger
Former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot – and former chair of the Republican National Committee – is condemning the current RNC
Tranel files to run in Congressional District 1
Monica Tranel, a Missoula attorney, paid her filing fee Monday to become second Democrat officially in the 2022 race for Montana’s new, open western congressional district – and said she’s the only Democrat who can win it.
Still some uncertainty as Montana hospitals prepare for federal vaccine mandate
Starting Monday, February 14, 2022, the federal government is planning to enforce a COVID vaccination mandate for workers at hospitals and other healthcare facilities
New 2022 voting maps proposed for Montana’s PSC districts
Those suing to redraw Montana’s Public Service Commission districts for the 2022 election submitted three proposed new district maps to a federal court this week – each of which makes changes to all five PSC district boundaries.
MT Supreme Court allows GOP exclusion of media from legislative meeting
Excluding reporters from a meeting of Republican committee members discussing bills – prior to a full committee vote -- does not violate constitutional open-meeting guarantees, the Montana Supreme Court has ruled, because the meeting was less than a committee quorum. -
MT SupCo administrator: U.S. Supreme Court should deny Knudsen’s appeal in judiciary dispute
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s request to have the U.S. Supreme Court intervene in a legislative dispute with the Montana Supreme Court should be denied, because no federal issues are involved, the state court’s administrator argued Wednesday.
Lake County hands Montana $4M-a-year bill – for law enforcement
Western Montana’s Lake County is the only Indian reservation county in the state where local law enforcement handles felony cases against Native Americans – and says it’s costing the county about $4 million a year.
Traffic halted again at Sweet Grass-Coutts border crossing
The blockade at Coutts has now been going on for over a week in conjunction with blockades and protests at other Canada/United States border crossings.
Sweeney joins eastern Montana congressional race
Sweeney lives in Philipsburg, but is running to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale in Montana’s new eastern district.
Lawsuit to halt property-tax measure should be dismissed, sponsor argues
A legal attempt to delay signature-gathering for a proposed 2022 constitutional initiative to limit residential property taxes in Montana is based on “unserious arguments” made by “unserious people” and should be dismissed, a supporter of the initiative said in court late last week.
Montana is accepting applications to use $266M for expanding high-speed Internet
Montana is now accepting applications for projects to expand high-speed Internet services into underserved areas, using $266 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Monday.
