Montana Politics: Latest News

Over the last few years, the Montana Legislature has launched a number of new programs aimed at providing more tools to address the crisis of missing people in Montana – particularly in Indian Country. Now, leaders say one of those programs is showing noticeable growth.

Montanan Tracy Stone-Manning, after a months-long partisan battle, won confirmation Thursday as the new director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, on a 50-45 vote.

The extraordinary string of last-minute legal gyrations came within 36 hours of when the laws are scheduled to take effect, at midnight Friday.

Just as a crucial ruling is expected in the lawsuit challenging four new state laws restricting abortion in Montana, the presiding judge is off the case and has been replaced with a new one.

On Wednesday afternoon, state attorneys filed a motion and supporting brief asking Todd to remove himself from the case, citing a comment the judge made Thursday that the state said displayed “personal bias and prejudice” against the defendants.

After a two-month wait, the final U.S. Senate confirmation vote on Montanan Tracy Stone-Manning as director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management could occur as soon as Thursday.

Whether three of Montana's four new abortion laws will go into effect as planned next week hangs in the balance.

A coalition of medical providers and patients filed suit Wednesday to invalidate Montana’s law barring them from requiring employees to be vaccinated, saying it violates federal law and the U.S. and Montana constitutions.

Labor organizations, disability rights advocates and voters have announced another lawsuit challenging a new state law that ends Election Day voter registration in Montana.

Gov. Greg Gianforte was sued Tuesday over his refusal to release any documents that contained advice or legal evaluation from state attorneys on bills before the 2021 Legislature.

On September 22, 40 Days For Life will begin their fall advocacy for the end of abortion.

Montana hospitals and larger businesses in the state are getting ready to wriggle on the horns of a Covid-19 dilemma, as they confront two upcoming federal rules forcing employee vaccines – and a state law forbidding such mandates.

Gov. Greg Gianforte said on Thursday he plans to welcome fully-vetted Missoula-bound Afghan refugees fleeing the humanitarian crisis stemming from the end of the war in Afghanistan.

The $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill that will greatly benefit Montana could be days away from final passage – if the House takes action this month and sends it to the president, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and local officials said Thursday.

The antagonism by some GOP lawmakers toward the Montana Supreme Court and the state judiciary was on display again Tuesday, as they grilled the high court’s chief justice and a district judge over ethical questions and the judges’ attitude toward the Legislature.

A conservative political group filed suit Monday to invalidate Montana’s “clean campaign act,” saying its requirement to notify candidates of election mailers criticizing them violates the U.S. Constitution.

Three groups that promote voting by younger Montanans filed suit Thursday to overturn a trio of new Republican-passed laws making it more difficult to vote, arguing the laws unconstitutionally target and affect young voters.

Montana regulators have adjusted their proposed new rules for medical marijuana advertising, in response to comments and concerns from marijuana providers.

State Budget Director Kurt Alme, on the job for just nine months, will step down next month and be replaced by a Republican state senator and rancher, the Gianforte administration announced late Tuesday.

The Montana Supreme Court Tuesday declined to reconsider its earlier ruling that voided legislative Republicans’ subpoenas to obtain internal court emails and documents.

A lawsuit challenging a Montana law that plaintiffs say allows NorthWestern Energy to shift the risk of power-plant acquisition entirely to ratepayers will proceed, a state judge has ruled.

Drawing two new, compact Congressional districts for Montana in 2022 with equal populations is a piece of cake – but, when their political leaning is a consideration, things get prickly.

A state judge has dismissed a second attempt to void a new law giving Gov. Greg Gianforte more power to appoint new state judges, saying it strengthens, rather than violates the “separation of powers” of Montana government.

The sponsors of a proposed constitutional initiative to cap property taxes in Montana and create a sales-value assessment system have revised it to focus on Montana homeowners, excluding commercial property and second homes.

This spring, legislators passed a one-of-a-kind law barring vaccine-based discrimination. Now schools, counties, businesses and health care professionals are struggling to overcome the challenges it creates.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) issued an emergency rule on Tuesday addressing school masking mandates and parent choice.

A state commission has endorsed dozens of water and sewer projects across Montana, recommending them to receive a share of $250 million in federal COVID recovery funding.

At a Tuesday press conference, Governor Greg Gianforte strongly criticized how the United States withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan has proceeded.

Governor Greg Gianforte says there’s never been a better time for Montanans to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Wolf hunting will look significantly different in Montana this year, with Fish and Wildlife Commission approving new quota and hunting methods for the predators at their Friday meeting.