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Montana Politics

Montana News

Funding bill for wildlife crossings advances with bipartisan support

Ellis Juhlin

Montana has one of the highest rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the country. House Bill 855, carried by Billings Republican Representative Katie Zolnikov, creates a way to fund wildlife crossings to fix the problem.

Montana News

The judiciary and wildfires

Shaylee Ragar

It's week 13 for the 69th Legislature. Proposals to regulate the judiciary are seeing limited success. And a public utility is seeking legislative protection during wildfire season. This is The Session, a look at the policy and politics inside the Montana statehouse.

Montana News

Federal funding for family planning clinics is frozen

Shaylee Ragar

Family planning clinics across the state are facing a funding freeze handed down by the Trump Administration. Montana’s $2 million grant is one of a few targeted.
Montana News

Resort tax housing bill awaits governor's signature

Victoria Traxler

Montana lawmakers recently passed a bill that will allow communities with a resort tax to fund workforce housing to help Montanans live where they work.
Montana News

Proposal would fund a new facility for defendants with severe mental illness

Aaron Bolton

Montanans with severe mental illnesses that are accused of crimes can languish in jail for more than a year as they wait for a bed at the state psychiatric hospital. New legislation would build a facility for those patients in eastern Montana.
Montana News

Senate votes to punish Ellsworth over ethics case

Shaylee Ragar

The Montana Senate voted to punish a Hamilton Republican Tuesday following an ethics investigation into claims he abused his power and wasted taxpayer dollars.
Montana News

Tax credit bills advance with backing from unlikely allies

Shaylee Ragar

Strange bedfellows are united behind proposed tax credits for middle to low-income families at the Montana Legislature. There are differing motivations behind the shared goal.
Montana News

Lawmakers advance State Hospital oversight bill

Aaron Bolton

Montana lawmakers are one step closer to having more oversight at the state psychiatric hospital. A bill that would give legislators access to the facility had its second hearing Monday.
Montana News

Lawmakers consider Medicaid expansion work requirements

Aaron Bolton

With Montana’s Medicaid expansion program renewed, the conversation in the Legislature has shifted to work requirements. A bill would expand the number of people subject to those rules.
Montana News

Republican lawmakers endorse Utah's federal land transfer lawsuit

Ellis Juhlin

Montana Republican lawmakers are supporting efforts by another state to gain control of federal public lands. The resolution passed out of committee after nearly 50 people spoke against it. No one spoke in favor of it.
Montana News

Knudsen asks Supreme Court to dismiss punishment for misconduct charges

Shaylee Ragar

Attorney General Austin Knudsen asked the Montana Supreme Court Friday to dismiss any punishment for violating rules of conduct. The charges stem from strong language the attorney general used to rebuke the high court in a 2021 case.
Montana News

Governor signs Medicaid expansion renewal into law

Aaron Bolton

Montana’s Medicaid expansion program has officially been renewed. Gov. Greg Gianforte signed legislation Thursday that will keep the existing program in place.

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Capitol Talk is MTPR's weekly legislative news and analysis program. MTPR's Sally Mauk is joined by Lee Newspapers State Bureau Chief Holly Michels and UM Political Science Professor and Mansfield Center Fellow Rob Saldin.

Capitol Talk

News and analysis from the Montana Legislature.

The Session

A breakdown of the latest action we’re watching in the statehouse.

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Politics

Politics

Montana politics, elections and legislative news