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Browning man gets probation for stealing sacred artifacts from Museum of the Plains Indian
A Browning man was sentenced Thursday to five years of probation and ordered to complete community service and pay restitution after stealing artifacts from the Museum of the Plains Indian in 2021. Preston Jay Spotted Eagle, 32, will have to complete 250 hours of community service and pay $16,860 in restitution under a plea agreement […]
Montana Legislature tweaks upcoming deadlines citing large number of bills
The Montana Legislature on Wednesday moved several upcoming deadlines in the final third of the 2023 session, citing a large number of bills still in process. “As you know, we are experiencing a voluminous number of bills this session, so we’re going to move a few transmittal deadlines to help us process the bills,” said […]
Bill preventing restraining orders against government without notice headed to governor’s desk
When a Lewis and Clark District Court judge granted a temporary restraining order against the implementation of House Bill 102, the permitless concealed carry measure, in 2021, he said the Board of Regents would suffer an immediate and irreparable injury before Attorney General Austin Knudsen had an opportunity to respond. A bill now headed to […]
Most remaining constitutional amendment proposals face long chances at Montana legislature
Only one of the proposed constitutional amendments from the 2023 legislature appears to have a strong chance of being sent to Montana voters in 2024 among seven remaining, though several still have long-shot chances after third reading in their initial chambers Tuesday. The House and Senate voted on the remaining referendum proposals – all sponsored […]
House votes down Gianforte’s housing proposal, advances ‘compromise’ affordable housing bill
The Montana House voted down one of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s major housing proposals in bipartisan fashion Monday and moved ahead with another affordable housing measure proposed by the House speaker and minority leader. House Bill 825, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula, referred to as the Montana Home Ownership Means Economic Security (HOMES) Act, was […]
House advances two child care bills ahead of Tuesday’s budget deadline
As Montana tries to figure out how to address a mix of child care provider shortages, increasing costs, and parents hoping to get back in the workforce, the House advanced two bills from Rep. Alice Buckley and voted down another that sought to address some of the issues more permanently. The Bozeman Democrat’s House Bill […]
Competing bills, opinions could determine reallocation of Montana marijuana tax revenue
Fights are ramping up at the state Capitol over what to do with Montana’s marijuana tax revenue and its funding of the Habitat Montana conservation program, as the two bills still moving through the legislature that address both contain vastly different end goals. Conservation and outdoors groups have been loudly outspoken about what they see […]
Latest slate of Montana abortion bills advance ahead of upcoming deadline
The latest round of Republican bills aimed at restricting abortions or putting new conditions on them in Montana, including one introduced Wednesday afternoon, advanced Thursday in party-line votes. House Bill 968 from Rep. Amy Regier, R-Kalispell, which was first noticed to the public Wednesday, passed out of the House Judiciary Committee in a 13-6 vote […]
Opponents say Regier’s marijuana bill would kill industry, cost Montana millions
Sen. Keith Regier’s bill to repeal adult-use marijuana in Montana is an effort to undo the will of voters, would kill hundreds of small businesses and thousands of jobs, harm sick people who rely on medical marijuana, and cost the state millions of dollars, opponents told a Senate committee Wednesday. Nicole Hobday, a former industry […]
‘Compromise’ bill aims to put $100+ million more toward Montana affordable housing program
A compromise between the Republican House Speaker and Democratic House Minority Leader could send another $115 million to the coal severance tax trust fund to be put toward housing for low- and middle-income Montanans. Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, introduced House Bill 927 Tuesday, which cleared the House Taxation Committee in a unanimous vote shortly after […]
Montana ban on gender-affirming care nears governor’s desk after Senate vote
The bill that would ban gender-affirming care for children in Montana and punish providers is on the verge of being sent to the governor’s desk after the Senate on Tuesday concurred with the amendments made in the House. The Senate voted 33-17 – Sen. Terry Vermeire, R-Anaconda being the lone Republican no vote – to […]
Best Beginnings Scholarship expansion clears initial House vote with bipartisan support
On its first floor vote Monday, 23 House Republicans joined all 32 Democrats to advance Bozeman Democratic Rep. Alice Buckley’s bill to expand the Best Beginnings Scholarship program, which provides child care scholarships for low-income families in Montana. Three Republicans spoke up in favor of House Bill 648, saying it would be a benefit for […]