Government

News from the Montana Department of Commerce HELENA — The Montana Department of Commerce announced the launch of a new program to inventory for the presence of lead service lines in Montana communities. This statewide effort will support the work of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Lead Service Lines Inventory Program and help communities apply for more than $100 million in additional project funding to remove and replace lead service lines. “People can be exposed to lead in drinking water through lead pipes,” said Scott Osterman, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “That’s why we’re helping Montana’s water systems i...

News from MCCBC HELENA — Montana Child Care Business Connect (MCCBC) is thrilled to announce the launch of its new website, www.childcarebusinessconnect.com. The new website serves as a comprehensive resource hub for all stakeholders in the child care industry, providing valuable information, tool...

News from the office of Senator Tester U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $24.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to make infrastructure upgrades that will support economic development and improve access to downtown Missoula. The funding will come from ...

News from the office of Governor Gianforte HELENA — Together with Director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Charlie Brereton, Governor Greg Gianforte announced on June 22 a $24 million investment in the state’s early childhood system. “Promoting the heal...

News from the office of Senator Daines U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines recently released the following statement celebrating India’s decision to lower tariffs on pulse products. Daines has advocated tirelessly for years with the Biden and Trump administrations as well as directly wit...

News from Danny Tenenbaum MISSOULA — Former Montana Rep. Danny Tenenbaum kicks off his campaign for Senate District 46 this week. Senate District 46 includes urban and rural communities in Missoula, Sanders, and Lake counties. Tenenbaum currently works for the Confederated Salish & Kootenai...

Rylee Sommers-Flanagan Upper-Seven Law HELENA — On Wednesday, June 14, a group of individual and organizational plaintiffs, including the Montana Quality Education Coalition, the League of Women Voters of Montana, Billings public schoolteacher and parent Jessica Felchle, Kalispell public schooltea...

News from the Dept. of the Interior WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced that more than 1,900 state and local governments around the country will receive a total of $578.8 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes funding for 2023. Because local governments cannot tax federal lan...

News from the Dept. of the Interior WASHINGTON — On June 15, the Department of the Interior announced a proposed update of its renewable energy regulations to promote the development of solar and wind energy on public lands. The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed Renewable Energy Rule woul...

News from Hannah VanHoose, Montana House Democrats’ Chief of Staff  HELENA — During the week of June 12, legislation championed by Montana Democrats to invest in Montana’s small businesses and workforce by increasing access to affordable childcare was signed into law. HB 648, spon...