Montana Politics: Latest News

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.

Montana’s House Human Services Committee held an initial hearing Thursday on a bill that would increase legal protections for medical marijuana patients in the state.

One of Montana Attorney General Tim Fox’s top deputies has entered the race to succeed Fox after his term ends.

State lawmakers plan to craft a new, single bill to make it easier to detect and hold accountable adults who sexually abuse children in Montana – in criminal and civil legal actions.

After a visit with Senator Jon Tester on Tuesday, MTN News caught up with Senator Steve Daines to discuss the same issues Wednesday.

A House-Senate budget panel Wednesday hammered out the first draft of the state human-service budget, including higher payments to those who provide services to the elderly, mentally ill and disabled.

Ten resort communities from around Montana are asking the state Legislature to let them increase the resort tax to help pay for infrastructure needs.

The “Hippy Hippy Shake” made significant progress towards becoming Montana’s official Rock and Roll song.

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to kill the bill to abolish the death penalty in Montana.

The question of whether raw milk sales should be legalized in Montana is back before the Legislature.

A bill creating a five-year moratorium on property taxes for new fiber-optic cable in Montana would help expand high-speed Internet into underserved areas of the state, its sponsor said Tuesday.

Jon Tester, Montana’s senior U.S. senator, visited the Montana This Morning set Tuesday to discuss several issues impacting both the state and nation.

A legislative committee Monday scaled back requested budget increases for the state Department of Corrections and public defenders’ office, saying criminal-justice reforms should help create savings for both agencies.

On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill to abolish the death penalty in the state.