Montana Environmental Information Center

A Montana district court judge required the Legislature to allow the public access to all behind-the-scenes information about bills in the drafting process on Tuesday.

Fewer than a third of Montana’s state lawmakers have signed a waiver allowing the public to view behind-the-scenes information used to draft bills. That’s a change from previous legislative sessions, when those files were fully public.

The Montana Supreme Court upheld the water use permit for a controversial proposal for a copper mine near the Smith River. The mine is now fully permitted to be built.

Two members of the public, along with the Montana Environmental Information Center, are suing the state Legislature over a new policy they say violates their constitutional right-to-know.

State environmental regulators have proposed changes to how they assess pollutants that can kill aquatic species in rivers and streams. Environmental groups worry the methods aren’t scientifically sound.

The state’s largest utility explained to lawmakers this week why it wants to expand ownership of the Colstrip power plant. NorthWestern Energy plans to own more than half of Colstrip by 2026.

A coalition of nonprofits and businesses are asking a court to order state utility regulators to respond to their petition to incorporate climate change into their decision-making.

Earlier this year, a court ordered state environmental regulators to consider climate impacts when assessing proposed development projects. Now, a working group tasked with reviewing this state policy has come up with draft recommendations.

The Montana Department of Justice is blocking access to what it calls privileged documents showing its communication with a Canadian mining company. An environmental group is now suing to access the information.

Montana's Supreme Court has overruled a lower court decision, reinstating operations permits for a mine near the Smith River.