Government
As lawmakers meet to cultivate Montana’s next crop of laws this winter, there are more ideas flying around the Capitol than any single person can possibly keep track of. As is a longstanding tradition at the Legislature, they range the gamut from wise to bonkers — some of them trivial measures and others bills that, if enacted, would realign the trajectory of Montana’s future. With 392 bills introduced as of Jan. 11 and hundreds more on the way, the Montana Free Press newsroom is hard at work trying to make sense of this year’s legislative process. The same is true of the other journalists staffing the state press corps, the legions of lobbyists who work the Capit...
HELENA — As the 68th Montana Legislature gets into full swing in Helena, party leaders say affordable housing, the cost of living, access to childcare and reducing red tape will be some of the top issues lawmakers will attempt to tackle in the 90-day session. Republicans hold control of the go...
News from Senator’s Tester office U.S. Senate — Following sustained efforts from U.S. Senator Jon Tester, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today proposed a rule in the Federal Register to waive copayments incurred on or after Jan. 5, 2022, for certain care received by American Indian ...
MONTANA — An amended set of rules to govern the Montana House of Representatives passed Wednesday afternoon after heated debate within the Republican caucus. The new set of rules, in addition to making a number of technical changes, will lower the number of votes required to pull tabled bills ...
HELENA – After banning TikTok on state devices, for state business, and while connected to the state network, Governor Greg Gianforte today urged the Board of Regents to support efforts by Commissioner of Higher Education Clay Christian to take similar action within the university system. “The...
HELENA – After banning TikTok on state devices, for state business, and while connected to the state network, Governor Greg Gianforte today urged the Board of Regents to support efforts by Commissioner of Higher Education Clay Christian to take similar action within the university system. “The...
News from the office of Senator Tester BIG SANDY — As part of his continued push to support small business in rural America, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $1.109 million to support and expand meat processing operations across Montana. The funding comes from U.S. Department of Agriculture (...
The 68th Montana Legislature is officially in session. As Senate leadership, we’re excited to see Senate Republicans getting to work on enacting conservative policy for our state. The last time the Legislature met, we successfully passed a conservative balanced budget, cut taxes for individual...
News from the office of Senator Tester U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Jon Tester successfully introduced, spearheaded, and sent 19 veterans bills to the President’s desk in his second year as Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. These new laws are part of Tester’...
News from DPHHS MONTANA — Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials are reporting substantial influenza (flu) activity during the first three months of this current flu season, from September through December 2022, that has far exceeded the prior five-year averages. Since...
