Featured Articles in Montana Politics

Watchdogs: New Montana law restricting foreign money in elections insufficient

(The Center Square) – Montana recently became the sixth state this year to pass a ban on foreign spending on ballot measures. Watchdog organizations, however, say the state’s new law is inadequate. Montana’s new law bars non-U.S. citizens, foreign governments, foreign political parties and foreign-owned entities from contributing to campaigns surrounding ballot measures. The legislation Read More…

Ryan Zinke

Zinke Votes to Pass “Big Beautiful Bill”

Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01) announced his vote in favor of the Big Beautiful Bill Act, landmark legislation that he says delivers long-awaited reforms to federal tax policy, border security, entitlement programs, and land conservation—all while safeguarding Montana’s values and public lands. Zinke hailed the bill as a “bold, decisive action” to restore fiscal sanity and Read More…

Knudsen Urges Gallatin County to Support ICE Partnership

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is calling on the Gallatin County Commission to reject legal guidance from the Democrat county attorney and partner with the Trump Administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds. In a letter sent Wednesday, Knudsen criticized a recent legal opinion from Democrat Gallatin County Attorney Read More…

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Whitefish Adopts Zoning Rules to Allow Marijuana Dispensaries in City Limits

The Whitefish City Council last week adopted a zoning ordinance to allow recreational adult-use marijuana sales in its downtown and secondary business districts, unanimously approving a framework for pot dispensaries to begin opening storefronts and selling their products after the new year. Council arrived at the final set of rules after careful deliberation, sending an Read More…

A fourth Democrat enters the race for Montana’s new congressional seat

A fourth Democrat and former state lawmaker has joined the race for Montana’s new congressional seat. Tom Winter, a former state representative from Missoula, announced his run for the U.S. House on Wednesday, saying populism and progressivism can win. Winter joins fellow Democrats Laurie Bishop, a state lawmaker, Cora Neumann, who runs a public health nonprofit, and Read More…

Billings nonprofit advocates for Native American voter participation and engagement

BILLINGS, Mont. – While Americans head to the polls on Election Day during National Native American Heritage month, groups in Montana look to engage Native Americans in building political and personal power to address local community challenges. Western Native Voice, a non-profit, non-partisan organization in Billings continues to work to increase Native American participation and engagement Read More…

Pot rules, architecture divide Kalispell mayoral candidates

The differences between Kalispell mayoral candidates Mark Johnson and Sid Daoud came down to questions of small and smaller government during a virtual question-and-answer session with the Daily Inter Lake on Thursday. Johnson, the incumbent two-term mayor, and Daoud, the Ward 4 City Council representative, generally agreed in their desire to see reductions in development Read More…

With Recreation on the Rise, FWP Proposes New Rules on Flathead Lake Islands

As visitation to Flathead Lake’s state-managed islands continues to increase, so do the negative consequences on wildlife habitat, including an uptick in instances involving human waste, garbage, vandalism, and unattended campfires. To that end, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) has released a draft environmental assessment on a suite of proposed rule changes, which the agency crafted Read More…

Deadlocked commission advances two proposed congressional district maps

The commission in charge of drawing Montana’s new political boundaries remains stuck in a deadlock over how to split the state into two congressional districts. The bipartisan Districting and Apportionment Commission failed to find consensus Thursday. Instead of putting forth a single map for consideration as planned, they advanced two. Still, commissioners are getting closer Read More…

GOP Governors bring forth border security plan

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte traveled to the Texas-Mexico border as the fight to re-open the southern border continues. Gov. Gianforte joined nine other GOP governors addressing the issue of illegal immigrants and brought forth a security plan they believe will help the situation. The security plan includes 10 steps, like continuing Title Read More…

State Lawmaker Questions The Science Behind The Governor’s School Masking Rule

A Democratic state lawmaker Wednesday questioned the head of the state health department about whether medical experts were involved in making a controversial emergency rule issued last month regarding masking in schools. Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Adam Meier was questioned by a Democratic lawmaker from Bozeman about the origin of Read More…

Montana’s Two Largest Universities Implement Mask Mandate For Classrooms

Students are returning to fall classes at Montana Universities at a time when COVID cases are increasing. Mask mandates are now in place at Montana’s two largest universities. Two days after classes began at Montana State University in Bozeman, mask guidelines for inside classrooms changed from a recommendation to a mandate. The university had previously Read More…

Frontier Institute: ‘Something needs to be done’ about Montana property taxes

(The Center Square) – As demand and scarcity drive property values up, Montana’s property tax structure may get a second look. Attorney and former Montana state lawmaker Matthew Monforton is proposing an “acquisition-value” property tax system, the Missoula Current reported. Such a system would keep property taxes from inflating along with market property values by Read More…

Attorney General asking for comments on referendum

If Montana voters approve a Referendum on HB273 (Rep. Skees’ attempt to expedite nuclear development in Montana), the 1978 Nuclear Vote Initiative will once more be Montana law. The referendum asks Montana voters to repeal HB273 for five reasons: In 1978, Montana voters approved Initiative-80, “Nuclear Vote” by 65% to 35%. READ FULL STORY

Sen. Daines introduces bill to thwart Big Tech’s influence on political speech, beliefs

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, R-Mont., on Wednesday introduced a bill to crack down on Big Tech and online platforms’ ability to “discriminate against users based on their political speech and beliefs.” The bill would enforce equal access to political candidates on online platforms as well as create a provision to prohibit the removal of content Read More…

Republicans ramp up pressure on Biden to pull nominee linked to eco-terrorist plot

Republican senators are ramping up pressure on President Biden to withdraw Tracy Stone-Manning’s nomination for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) director, citing her link to an eco-terrorist plot and her apparently misleading answers to senators about it. Every Republican on the Senate Energy Committee signed a letter Wednesday urging Biden to pull Stone-Manning’s nomination. “Ms. Stone-Manning has made false and misleading Read More…