Government

HELENA — Addressing the Montana Housing Coalition on Feb. 21 at the State Capitol, Governor Greg Gianforte highlighted his administration’s efforts to increase the supply of affordable workforce housing in Montana, calling on the legislature to send pro-housing reforms to his desk. “Housing is a top priority for Montanans. I hear it over and over from folks throughout the state,” Gianforte said to the coalition at the State Capitol. “To increase the supply of affordable workforce housing, we can’t keep doing the same thing we’ve done year after year after year. The state can’t. And local governments can’t. It hasn’t worked.&rdqu...

HELENA — The Montana Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Feb. 16 on a bill requiring Montana to provide funding for the enforcement of Public Law 280.  PL280 is an agreement with the State of Montana passed in 1964 to conduct law enforcement and provide other services on the Flathead Reservatio...

MONTANA — In a recent media phone call, Senator Jon Tester discussed a number of bills he’s been involved with that have a direct impact on the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe.  The office of Senator Tester announced on Feb. 3 that CSKT would receive nearly $156,937,000 out of the bipa...

News from the office of Senator Daines  U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines led a group of his colleagues today in introducing the “Firearm Industry Non-Discrimination Act” to stop the federal government from entering into contracts with entities that promote anti-Second Amend...

News from the MT Department of Commerce HELENA — The Montana Department of Commerce and Carroll College announced today the completion of a new county population forecasting data model to plan for future community development and land-use planning. This new resource is the result of a collaboratio...

HELENA — A bill that would explicitly open much of Montana’s trail network to e-bikes is positioned to clear the House of Representatives following lawmakers’ 54-46 vote to advance the measure. During a Thursday afternoon floor session, House Bill 261 sponsor Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Libb...

HELENA — A bill under consideration at the Montana Legislature would give cities, counties and resort districts the option of levying a tax on Airbnb-style, short-term rentals if they use the money to give rebates to landlords who rent to local workers on a long-term basis. Sponsored by Rep. Jane Gi...

News from Montana House Democrats HELENA—On Feb. 15, on the floor of the House, Montana Republicans voted against providing meaningful, long-term property tax relief for working Montanans by killing HB 280, which would ensure that Montana homeowners receive a refund when their property taxes rise ...

News from the office of Governor Gianforte HELENA – Following his visit to Lewistown yesterday, Governor Greg Gianforte today urged legislators to deliver on Montanans’ priorities by sending a historic tax package and pro-housing reforms to his desk.  “Folks in Lewistown told m...

HELENA — The Capitol was awash in shades of hi-vis yellow and orange Friday as dozens of union workers testified in opposition to proposed legislation that would establish Montana as the country’s 28th right-to-work state.  The bill, Buffalo Republican Rep. James Bergstrom’s House B...