Featured Articles in Montana Politics

Attorney General Knudsen Leads 21-State Coalition Urging Congress to Ban China-Based AI Platform on Government Devices

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,” which would ban the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese-based artificial intelligence platform, on all government devices. In a letter sent to congressional leadership on Thursday, Attorney General Knudsen emphasized Read More…

Governor Gianforte Champions Property Tax Relief for Small Businesses

At a press conference held at Central Plumbing, Heating, Excavation in Great Falls, Governor Greg Gianforte discussed his proposed tax cuts aimed at delivering significant property tax relief for Montana homeowners and small businesses, specifically through the Homestead Rate Cut. “Through the Homestead Rate Cut, we can provide permanent property tax relief, giving Montanans more Read More…

Senate Ethics Committee Investigates Sen. Ellsworth’s Contract

The Senate Ethics Committee convened its first witness testimonies on Friday as part of its investigation into Sen. Jason Ellsworth’s alleged conflict of interest. The inquiry centers on a six-figure state-funded contract Ellsworth arranged without disclosing his long-standing personal relationship with the vendor. A legislative audit in February found that he had structured the contract Read More…

Democrat Legislator Pleads Guilty to DUI After Political Fundraiser

Montana state Senator Ellie Boldman, a Democrat from Missoula, pleaded guilty Monday morning to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence after being found asleep in her running vehicle in downtown Helena early Sunday. Boldman, who had attended the Montana Democratic Party’s annual Mansfield Metcalf fundraising dinner earlier that evening, admitted in Helena Municipal Read More…

All in: Montana Politics

Montana lawmakers approve resolution on compensation for wrongfully incarcerated

The state Legislature last week passed a resolution to examine how it might set up monetary compensation to support those wrongfully incarcerated upon their release. House Joint resolution 36, which passed through the Senate on Thursday following a 34-16 vote, requests an interim study for appropriate compensation for the wrongfully convicted. The results of the Read More…

Daines proposes bill to allow college savings plan money to go to apprenticeship programs

HELENA – U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) met Friday with leaders from the skilled trades in Helena, to discuss ways to encourage more students to consider apprenticeship programs. Daines visited the Montana Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center, operated by local chapters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association. Read More…

Colstrip gets its day on Capitol Hill

Montana’s Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte accused Washington Gov. Jay Inslee of killing Colstrip during a heated exchange on climate change Tuesday at a House Energy Committee hearing. The exchange between Inslee and Gianforte occurred when Montana’s Republican lawmakers interjected Colstrip into broader discussions about climate change and energy on Capitol Hill, first in the House Read More…

Montana’s 2020 governor’s race: Buckle up

BILLINGS – It’s not an election year in Montana, but it didn’t take long for politics to take center stage in Helena. Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock can’t run again after finishing his second term next year, which leaves the race for governor wide open. Secretary of State Corey Stapleton surprised everyone when he announced on Jan. Read More…

Bozeman lawyer sues former Commissioner of Political Practices over 2016 ethical complaints

Bozeman lawyer Matthew Monforton has asked the Gallatin County District Court to review the decision by the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices to dismiss his ethics complaint against the office’s former commissioner, Jonathan Motl. Monforton, a former Republican state representative, is accusing Motl of illegally using public resources to oppose the 2016 reelection Read More…

Montana bills seek to ease vaccination restrictions

HELENA, Mont. — Montana lawmakers are considering loosening the state’s vaccination requirements even as Washington state deals with a measles outbreak spread mainly by children who haven’t been inoculated. In Montana, parents can opt out of immunizing their children for either medical or religious reasons. In day cares, only medical exemptions are allowed. READ FULL Read More…

Anti-American Prairie Reserve resolution passes Montana House committee

A resolution requesting that the American Prairie Reserve’s federal grazing permits not be changed passed out of committee on a party-line vote Tuesday. House Agriculture Committee Republicans endorsed House Joint Resolution 28 that asks the Bureau of Land Management to deny the northeastern Montana nonprofit group’s request to modify its federal grazing permits. “I believe there are Read More…

Daines Introduces Bipartisan Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act. The bill requires most federal buildings to have dedicated rooms for breastfeeding mothers. “Mothers who are breastfeeding should have a private, clean, and safe place to go in federal buildings,” Daines said. “It’s long overdue new moms have this resource, and I’m glad this bill provides Read More…

Tuition freeze for Montana students OK’d in early vote

A legislative committee has unanimously endorsed the Montana University System’s budget, including $24 million that would freeze tuition for Montana resident students for the next two years.   The Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education voted 7-0 Wednesday to approve the governor’s two-year budget proposal to spend $404 million from taxpayers on the University System.   Read More…

Helena Democrat proposes $210 Million carbon tax

Montana lawmakers are considering two bills to tax carbon pollution, and not surprisingly owners of Colstrip Power Plant say the measures would kill the facility.   Democratic legislators are floating two bills creating a $10-per-ton tax on carbon dioxide from various sources, including coal-fired power plants. Theirs aren’t the first attempts targeting Colstrip. Washington State, Read More…

Daines, Gianforte, Tester Introduce Clean Water for Rural Communities Act

U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and Congressman Greg Gianforte today reintroduced a bipartisan bill to provide much-needed authorization for Montana rural water infrastructure. “The fact of the matter is that thousands of Montanans still lack access to steady safe drinking water,” Daines stated. “Water is a basic necessity for any community. We depend Read More…