Montana Politics: Latest News

A bill to continue Montana’s Medicaid expansion program, which provides health coverage to 96,000 low-income adults, cleared its first legislative hurdle Tuesday evening, as the House Human Services Committee voted 11-8 to send it to the House floor.

The United States House of Representatives passed a bill to federally recognize the Little Shell Tribe.

Montana’s Medicaid expansion, which covers 96,000 low-income adults, has had a huge economic and health-care impact on the state, creating thousands of jobs and greatly lowering the number of uninsured people, says a study released Tuesday by Montana hospitals.

Legislative Republicans and outdoor-recreation groups lined up Monday behind a bill they said would increase access through private land to “landlocked” public lands in Montana.

Montana lawmakers will soon decide whether they want to increase the state’s commitment to funding voluntary preschool programs.

A new presidential task force will focus on protecting Native American children in the Indian Health Service System.

Republicans in the Montana House voted Monday to increase state income-tax revenue — by repealing more than a dozen tax credits, including several that benefit installers of energy-conservation and alternative-energy systems.

On a 10-9 vote, the bill to finance a proposed $48 million new museum for the Montana Historical Society advanced out of committee Monday.

House Bill 21, or Hanna’s Act, failed on a tie vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday.

MTN News reached out to Montana’s U.S. senators for their response.

On Saturday, Senator Steve Daines heard directly from veterans on the issues they face with the Veteran’s Administration (VA) in rural areas.

A bill to legalize sports betting in Montana has passed out of a Senate committee.

The first committee vote on the bills to continue Medicaid expansion in Montana has been delayed.

For several sessions, state lawmakers have rejected funding for a proposed new Montana Historical Society museum in Helena — but this time, a GOP senator hopes a new funding source that also spreads money statewide will get the project approved.

State lawmakers are talking about getting movie companies to come to the Treasure State with the help of a new bill.

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox signed a letter along with a coalition of attorneys general across the country calling on congress to pass the TRACED Act.

While the 2020 election is a long way off, Republicans and Democrats alike in Montana are already prepping for what could be a game-changing event: Republican Congressman Greg Gianforte running for governor.

State regulators reviewing NorthWestern Energy’s proposed $35 million rate increase voted Tuesday to reject most of the company’s requests to strike testimony on the future costs to ratepayers for the Colstrip 4 power plant.

Proposed legislation heard at the State Capitol Tuesday would legalize sports gambling in Montana, but only in qualified locations like taverns.

A majority of the state Public Service Commission Monday threw its support behind the controversial bill designed to help NorthWestern Energy buy an additional part of the Colstrip 4 power plant, to keep it operating well into the future.

They talk Medicaid, infrastructure, and more.

Saturday night, Senator Steve Daines was in Kalispell, at the Glacier Jet Center, welcoming home Kalispell’s 495th CSSB.

The crowd started gathering early for Saturday’s dual hearing before the House Human Services Committee on the two competing bills that would continue Medicaid expansion.

Montana firefighters were at the Legislature Friday continuing their fight for coverage for on-the-job illnesses.

The biggest issue of the 2019 Legislature will be under the spotlight Saturday, as a House committee plans an all-day hearing on the two competing bills to continue Medicaid expansion, the $750 million-a-year program that provides government-funded health coverage to 95,000 low-income adult Montanan

A bill moving through the Legislature would allow microdistilleries to increase their alcohol production and still keep their tasting rooms.

On a bipartisan vote, the Montana House Thursday endorsed a bill that would prohibit judges from suspending someone’s driver’s license for non-payment of court fines or costs.

Senator Jon Tester said Wednesday that funding for upgrades at Malmstrom Air Force Base is threatened due to President Trump’s disaster emergency declaration. 

A bill designed to help NorthWestern Energy buy part of a Colstrip power plant — and perhaps extend the life of the plant — got a new life of its own Wednesday at the Legislature.

The future and value of NorthWestern Energy’s share of the coal-fired Colstrip 4 power plant have become a flashpoint in the company’s $35 million rate case before regulators — but the company says it shouldn’t be.