Montana Politics: Latest News

Senator Steve Daines, R-Mont., visited the Rimrock Foundation in Billings last week.

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed Public Lands Package 928, a bill that includes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which helps fund fishing access sites, trails, and playgrounds around the nation

A group of Helena students has helped put together a bill this legislative session, that they hope will help address gun safety in Montana.

The three members of Montana’s congressional delegation reacted to President Trump’s Friday announcement that’s he’s declaring a national emergency to divert federal money to build a southern border wall.

On Sunday’s Face the State, we examine Senate Bill 160, also known as the health and safety bill.

A second Republican-sponsored bill to extend and modify Medicaid expansion in Montana is in the works, with a focus on tightening eligibility for the health-care program and helping recipients out of poverty.

Gov. Steve Bullock, who had more mentions in national media this week on his potential run for president, is heading off this weekend to Iowa – the state that holds the first presidential nominating caucus next year.

A ballot measure to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Montana is expected in 2020, so state lawmakers should prepare by creating an interim committee to study the issue, a Missoula state senator said Friday.

Gov. Steve Bullock’s proposed funding increase that would enable the state university system to freeze tuition for the next two years cleared its first committee hurdle at the Legislature Wednesday.

Montana’s 1997 experiment with electric utility deregulation left a trail of economic wreckage in its wake – but that isn’t stopping Democratic lawmaker Tom Woods from proposing that Montana try it again.

The Montana House Wednesday endorsed a bill to replace Columbus Day as a state holiday in October with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

The Montana Senate Tuesday endorsed a bill increasing by $3 the motor-vehicle fee that supports state parks and fishing-access sites.

Daines spent the night with Border Patrol agents at what he calls “ground zero” of the southern border crisis—the Rio Grande Valley near McAllen.

Financed by a new state-run insurance fund, Montana would offer up to 12 weeks of paid leave to workers who need to care for a child or ailing family member, under a bill heard Monday at the Legislature.

Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton has been ordered to pay the state $4,000 for ethics violations related to his campaign for governor.

In the wet lab, members of the public and elected officials volunteered to be given alcohol over a period of time and then given standardized field sobriety tests.

On a mostly party-line vote with Republicans in favor, the Montana Senate Monday endorsed a bill requiring abortion providers to give women patients the chance to see an ultrasound of their fetus.

Montana Sen. Jon Tester said Sunday he remains hopeful that a bipartisan congressional committee can reach an agreement on border security funding and stave off another potential partial government shutdown.

Leaders with Montana’s Office of the State Public Defender told lawmakers Friday that they’re expecting higher caseloads in the coming years – and that could lead to higher costs.

A bill introduced in the legislature Monday would hold retailers accountable when it comes to labeling meat products.

The president of the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Tribes on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation delivered Montana’s State of the Tribal Nations address Thursday at the capitol.

A bill allowing Montana microbrewery taprooms to extend their hours to 10 p.m. died a quick death.

A Democratic lawmaker Thursday introduced the first bill this Legislature to continue Medicaid expansion in Montana, saying the program providing health coverage to 95,000 low-income adults should remain largely unchanged.

Gov. Steve Bullock’s proposal for $160 million in bonding to finance infrastructure projects across Montana cleared its first committee Thursday – but Republicans made it clear it contents are likely to change later.

Republicans are preparing to overhaul Gov. Steve Bullock’s $300 million-plus of infrastructure proposals – but they’re also working on a new framework to guide future spending on major building projects.

Firefighters are one step closer to getting the health and safety bill passed in the Montana legislature.

A state Senate panel Wednesday killed a bill that would have asked Montana voters whether they want to end daylight-saving time in the state.

The three members of Montana’s congressional delegation gave their response to President Trump’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night.

Tavern and restaurant owners lined up Tuesday to oppose a bill extending microbreweries’ tap-room hours to 10 p.m. in Montana, saying it gives craft brewers an unfair competitive advantage on retail sales of beer.

Montana’s Republican congressman, Greg Gianforte, told state lawmakers Monday the national economy is booming because of policies by Republicans and President Trump – and that perhaps Montana should take “a page from our national pro-growth playbook.”