Montana Politics: Latest News

It took less than six minutes on 2022’s first working day to max out an annual $1 million cap on Montana’s controversial new state income-tax credit for education donations – but, for public schools, rather than private-school students.

After months of preparation and planning, recreational marijuana sales in Montana are starting Saturday morning. For the Cannabis Control Division at the Montana Department of Revenue, there’s now one big question left to answer: Are they ready?

The countdown is on to Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, when legal recreational marijuana sales will begin in Montana. It’s likely to bring in a lot of new business for many existing marijuana dispensaries -- but not for those in many rural counties.

After-school organizations across the state will get $2.8 million to expand their programs for children in 2022, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen has announced.

A case involving a Missoula-area pastor, gay rights and the National Association of Realtors’ code of ethics may be the first legal test of the code, involving LGBTQ+ discrimination, an advocacy group says.

Candidate filing for Montana state elections is set to begin in just over two weeks. However, for people planning to run for the state’s Public Service Commission, there’s some new uncertainty, as a lawsuit is challenging the current district map.

Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale are part of a group of Republican members of Congress who have filed an amicus brief supporting 35 members of the Navy who are suing the government over the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.

Democrats and Republicans agree more effort could be put into being "civil" during these politically turbulent times.

One of a dozen challenges to Montana's laws involving transgender issues took center stage in Billings on Wednesday.

Montana trucking companies say they’re worried that vaccine mandates from the federal government could disrupt their workforce and compound supply chain issues.

As expected, Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen on Monday officially pulled the plug on launching a new statewide voter database in 2022.

About $3.8 million of federal funds to expand after-school programs will be awarded this week, as planned, says Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen – although the organizations seeking the money never submitted a formal application.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen told lawmakers Thursday she won’t launch a new, statewide voter database unless it’s ready – and, at the same meeting, a county election official involved with testing the new system said it’s not ready.

For months, after-school programs for kids in Montana have been anticipating a $3.8 million influx of new federal funding, which was approved this spring, to help them respond to the state’s child-care shortage.

Seven school trustees, 21 Republican lawmakers, and more than 500 citizens of Montana signed a letter in support of Elsie Arntzen.

The federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress last month has millions of dollars to help finish five big rural-water and irrigation projects in Montana – but on four of them, the actual amount is yet to be known, a Gianforte administration official said Tuesday.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has pulled back on a controversial elk hunting change

After an emotional court hearing, District Judge Kathy Seeley Thursday accepted a plea deal arranged by Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s office for a man accused of threatening restaurant employees with a gun last year, after a dispute over wearing a face-mask.

Montana’s two U.S. senators – one Democrat, one Republican – say they’ll be voting for a measure Wednesday to block the Biden administration’s rule requiring businesses with more than 100 employees to have their workers vaccinated against COVID-19.

“To be clear, our concerns are not related to your politics, but rather your leadership (or lack thereof),” noted the superintendents in their letter.

Republican legislators and Attorney General Austin Knudsen are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in their running dispute with the Montana Supreme Court, saying the state justices should have excused themselves from ruling on legislative attempts to acquire internal court documents.

While some of Montana’s unused emergency rental-assistance funds from federal COVID-19 relief bills may be directed elsewhere by the feds or the state, the program is still disbursing money and processing applications, state officials say.

A state district judge in Helena has ruled against a new state law that sought to prohibit the state Board of Regents from banning firearms on state college campuses.

A federal judge in Louisiana has granted a preliminary injunction against the COVID-19 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate following a lawsuit filed by Montana and 13 other states.

As much as $175 million of Montana’s unused federal COVID-19 emergency assistance for renters may be reallocated by the Biden administration – but Gov. Greg Gianforte says his administration is still waiting to see whether it can use the money on other housing needs.

Republican congressional candidate Ryan Zinke filed his financial-disclosure form Monday, reporting almost $800,000 in consulting income and fees this year and family real-estate holdings worth between $7.6 million and $32.5 million.

Sen. Jon Tester believes the focus should remain on individual action as the debate continues over a federal COVID-19 vaccine requirement.

In Montana’s new eastern district, incumbent and first-term Republican Rep. Matt Rosendale starts out with huge advantages for 2022, both in terms of money and political lean of the district – but he is not without opposition.

Montana’s newly minted western congressional district already has six candidates vying for the open seat in 2022 – but Republican Ryan Zinke looks like the obvious front-runner, if for no other reason that every other candidate seems to be gunning for him.