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Montana Politics Latest
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“Hanna’s Act” clears Montana Senate
After a turbulent journey through the Montana Legislature, the bill named after Hanna Harris, who was found murdered on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in 2013, passed the Senate 37-13 Tuesday.Bill to construct new Historical Society museum in Helena gets new life
The Montana House Thursday breathed new life into the bill to authorize and help finance a new, $48 million Montana Historical Society museum in Helena, voting to “blast” it from committee to the House floor.Bill revises laws related to sexual assaults and rape kits in Montana
More reform is coming to how law enforcement and health professionals handle sexual assaults and specifically rape kits in Montana.Ever-shifting ‘companion bills’ part of final budget talks
A one-sentence bill that morphed into a nine-page, $38 million legislative behemoth is a key element of the 2019 Montana Legislature’s final budget dance — and so are a few other of these so-called “companion bills,” which have drawn a skeptical eye from some lawmakers.Flags to be flown at half-staff for Montana’s firefighters
To honor firefighters who have lost their lives to on-the-job illnesses, Bullock has ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff on Thursday April 18.Daines talks MMIP crisis, southern border wall, and Trooper Palmer on Montana This Morning
Senator Steve Daines stopped by the set of Montana This Morning to discuss the latest issues impacting Montanans and the country.Bill on Colstrip purchase voted down in Montana House
The Montana House has voted down a bill aimed at encouraging NorthWestern Energy to buy a larger interest in the Colstrip 4 power plant — just a day after it passed a preliminary vote.DUI bill that caused political furor over process is now dead
The anti-DUI measure that sparked a political furor Saturday, when it was revived by cramming it into another bill, is now dead, after the bill’s sponsor decided to pull the measure from the Senate floor.Bill on Colstrip purchase passes first vote in Montana House
A bill intended to encourage NorthWestern Energy to buy a larger interest in the Colstrip 4 power plant passed a preliminary vote in the Montana House Monday.Gianforte “seriously considering” run for governor
Congressman Greg Gianforte is seriously considering a run for governor in 2020.Montana Senate narrowly revives, endorses Medicaid-expansion bill
The Montana Senate on Monday narrowly revived and then advanced the bill to continue the state’s $700 million-a-year Medicaid expansion program, breathing life back into one of the key measures before the 2019 Legislature.Montana House endorses medical marijuana reform bill, including “untethering” patients
The Montana House has endorsed a major reform to Montana’s medical marijuana system. -
Medicaid-expansion bill revived in Montana Senate
HELENA — The bill to continue Medicaid expansion in Montana — one of the key measures before the 2019 Legislature — was revived in the state Senate Monday morning by the narrowest of votes, setting up another debate and vote to possible move the bill toward approval. The Senate voted 26-24 to placeBill expanding Montana firefighters’ protections for job-related illnesses goes to governor’s desk
A bill that would increase protections for firefighters who develop cancer or other illnesses after their time on the job has cleared its last legislative hurdle.Revival of DUI bill criticized as backdoor power play
A toughening of Montana’s drunken-driving laws, proposed by Attorney General Tim Fox, got new life at the Legislature Saturday — but not before some tense, testy exchanges among legislators and lobbyists over what they saw as backdoor power play to cram the proposal and other items into a new bill.Medicaid expansion bill still on ice
On Friday, Democrats asked the Senate to take up Medicaid expansion again, but leaders of the Republican majority argued against it.Montana House approves vehicle fee increase to fund park, trail improvements
The Montana House has given preliminary approval to a proposal to increase an optional vehicle fee to support state parks and trails.Bills on missing & murdered Indigenous women revived, linked in MT Legislature
Advocates say they’re hopeful that the Montana Legislature will be able to pass a pair of bills addressing what they have called the “epidemic” of missing and murdered Native Americans in the state. Both bills had been stalled in committee, but are now alive once again.Resolution would designate day to honor sexual assault survivors
A resolution was introduced in the Montana House of Representatives this week that would honor survivors of sexual assault.Medicaid expansion bills stalls on tie vote in MT Senate
The bill to continue Montana’s $700 million-a-year Medicaid expansion program failed on a 25-25 vote in the state Senate Thursday, setting up a last-ditch effort to revive the measure on Friday.