News
Biden taps former Florida Senator to lead NASA
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden said Friday that he’s picked former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida to head up NASA. The White House in its announcement stressed Nelson’s long experience with the U.S. space program. Nelson, a Democrat, chaired the Space Subcommittee as a member of the U.S. House for six years and during his time […]
EPA pledges more transparency, unfettered access to information
Top public affairs staffers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday told journalists the agency is taking actions to be more open. The Society of Environmental Journalists invited EPA representatives to field questions from journalists. The session was planned as EPA Administrator Michael Regan, who was sworn in Wednesday, prepared to take office. SEJ […]
House Rules Committee considers reviving 2015 dress code, banning yoga pants, requiring neckties
Neckties for men, not COVID-19 relief or budget balancing, were at the center of debate in a House committee on Thursday night — risking another bout of national scrutiny like that in 2015 when the Montana Legislature proposed restrictions on leggings, skirt lengths and necklines for women. More than a month ago, Rep. Derek Skees, […]
Gianforte extends filing deadlines for individual income taxpayers to May 17
Governor Greg Gianforte today extended the payment and filing deadlines for Montana individual income taxpayers’ 2020 tax returns to May 17, 2021. “Last year brought real, serious challenges to Montanans, and it’s only appropriate to extend the deadline so Montana taxpayers have some extra time to file, without having to worry about interest or penalties,” Gianforte said. The May […]
Campus free speech bill passes 11-0; companion HB349 passes 7-4
A bill to protect free speech on public college campuses passed 11-0 on Thursday in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Jen Gross, D-Billings, said she remembers as a student being subject to a “free speech zone” near a building no one ever walked by. She said she liked the bill and the “slightly less prominent” […]
U.S. House passes ‘Dreamers’ bill over GOP objections
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House took up two bills Thursday that would grant legal status to broad groups of immigrants living and working in the United States, including a pathway to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of undocumented people brought to the country as children. The measures mark the first step towards what advocates for […]
Bill pitches public charter schools
Rep. Ed Hill, R-Havre, pitched a bill to allow public charter schools in Montana and give parents and students flexibility — but other lawmakers and opponents said the state already has a way to set up public charter schools, and it’s working well. Rep. Wendy McKamey, R-Ulm, repeatedly quizzed Hill and other supporters of House […]
More money for renters, emergency preparedness and childcare likely with COVID relief funds
Montana lawmakers on Thursday found themselves in an unfamiliar position: Having hundreds of millions of dollars to spend, with little guidance yet from the federal government and the clock ticking on the legislative session. Members of the Legislature came together to review the American Rescue Plan Act funds that are targeted toward health and human […]
Healthcare exchange members may receive premium reductions, Downing says
Montanans who purchase their health insurance through healthcare.gov may be eligible for premium savings. Montana Insurance Commissioner Troy Downing advises anyone enrolled in these health plans to review their policies following the recent passage of the American Rescue Plan. “Individuals enrolled in a healthcare.gov plan will not automatically receive the additional subsidies in their monthly […]
Mask lawsuits against Flathead County businesses to end; state will pay $100K in lawyer fees
Following through on a promise made during his State of the State address, Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Thursday the state had reached an agreement with five Flathead County businesses to end lawsuits brought against them by former Gov. Steve Bullock for violating the now expired statewide mask mandate. The state will pay out nearly $100,000 […]
Transgender regulation bills pass out of Senate Judiciary Committee
A day after being inundated by written and in-person testimony arguing House Bills 112 and 427 would be detrimental to transgender youth and their families, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the legislation. The bills will next be heard on the Senate floor. If they pass, they will be sent to the desk of Gov. Greg […]
Montana’s earned income tax credit looks to receive a boost
Legislative Democrats have revived a proposal to boost the amount of cash that Montanans get from the state earned income tax credit, removing an increase on taxes for top-earners that stymied the progress of a previous version of the bill. Like that previous bill, which failed to make it out of the House Taxation Committee, […]