Montana Politics: Latest News

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.

House Bill 439 would generally revise laws related to service animals, define the types of animals allowed as service animals, and allow businesses to ask questions about the service animals.

Republicans at the Legislature introduced a plan to use nearly $80 million in bonds to finance state and local infrastructure projects in Montana over the next two years.

Governor Steve Bullock on Friday issued his first outright veto of the 2019 Legislature – shooting down a Republican-sponsored bill on health insurance.

Many Montana businesses will see a reduction in their workers’ compensation insurance costs, after Montana State Fund announced its rate changes for the next year.

The Montana Supreme Court has ordered a new trial in the case of a Helena man who was found guilty of misdemeanor charges after he used his truck and boat to stop a high-speed chase.

From abolishing the death penalty to allowing on-line voter registration, the 2019 Montana Legislature is saying “no” to plenty of ideas so far this session.

More than 3,700 Montanans currently receive nursing home care.

U.S Customs and Border Protection recently proposed to cut hours for four of Montana’s 16 ports of entry.

When state lawmakers return to Helena later this week to start the 2019 session’s second half, the focus will be hammering out the state’s two-year budget – and that means bridging a wide gulf between Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and the Republican majority.

The latest draft of the Republican plan to continue expanded Medicaid in Montana requires most recipients to self-report 80 hours a month of “community engagement,” which could include work, workforce training or community service – a significant change from the current program.

Montana lawmakers wrapped up the first half of the 2019 Legislature Friday morning, as the House took its final votes before a week-long break – but much work remains on big issues like the state budget, Medicaid expansion and infrastructure spending.

After some emotion-charged debate, the Montana House Thursday voted down three bills to restrict when and how the state can require children to be vaccinated against childhood diseases.

State lawmakers Wednesday unveiled a bipartisan compromise to crack down on sexual abusers of children in Montana – although the sponsor of the upcoming bill said it’s “not perfect” and that he would prefer stronger steps.

A trio of bills to help rural schools in Montana find and keep people for hard-to-fill teaching positions is moving through the Legislature – including two measures endorsed by the House Tuesday.

State Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, has been identified as the legislator who was the subject of a harassment complaint last year – a complaint that legislative leaders said played a role in establishing a new anti-harassment policy this year for the Legislature.

U.S. Senator Jon Tester visited with locals and the owner at KettleHouse Brewing Co. in Bonner on Saturday, to talk about his bill to cut taxes and reduce regulations for small breweries.

A bill that supporters say could prolong the life of two coal-fired power plants in Colstrip was approved Thursday by a Senate committee – over the objections of those who said it’s a “blank check” for NorthWestern Energy to soak its customers.