Affordable housing remains a pressing issue in Montana with home prices rising significantly. The Montana Association of Realtors reports that the median home price has increased by nearly 90% over the past five years. Governor Greg Gianforte has proposed a biennium budget aimed at addressing the issue. It includes money for the Montana Housing Fund which the state legislature will evaluate in the new year.
According to a study published Thursday by legislative auditors the Montana Department of Revenue is losing track of hundreds of millions of dollars a year in new construction as it struggles to keep its data updated. That means lower tax bills for people who own newly built or renovated properties but less money collected for public services and higher bills for other taxpayers. Auditors department representatives and lawmakers will discuss the study at a meeting of the state’s Legislative Audit Committee set for next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Eleven people have been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges on the Blackfeet Reservation after a six-month investigation. The Thursday announcement coincides with Operation Overdrive a program within the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Blackfeet Reservation was the first reservation in the country chosen to be a part of the operation that focuses on overdose and violent crime reduction.
Republicans on the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Oversight and Reform will have 27 bills ready for introduction in the 2025 legislative session that starts in January several of which seek to move some power away from the judicial branch or make judicial elections partisan. The committee’s members praised their work and that of their staff after seven months of meetings and bill drafting.
A U.S. Supreme Court case heard this week challenging the 2023 Tennessee ban on gender affirming care for teens will likely have major implications for transgender rights nationwide including Montana. It’s similar to Senate Bill 99 from the last legislative session which banned a slew of procedures and treatments used for gender dysphoria the psychiatric condition that creates distress for a person whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.
A dramatic increase in the number of homeless seniors in all 50 states is overwhelming services for unhoused people. Older Montanans are especially struggling because housing costs have skyrocketed since 2020 with the rise of remote work. According to federal data The Treasure State has one of the fastest growing homeless populations in the country. This “gray wave” of homeless seniors is overwhelming service providers trying to help.
Montana Energy Share works with Human Resource Development Councils across the state to ensure families stay warm during the winter. Families in need of help this winter season should call their local Human Resource Development Council to find contact information.
A new grant opportunity is available for Montanans through the Rural Business Development Grant aiming to promote economic development and job creation across the state. The grant is available to those living outside cities with populations of 50,000 or more and applications must be submitted by next February 28th.
A restoration project which kicked off in September in the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge has expanded trout habitat by 2.5 miles and is also in the process of revegetating portions of the Refuge overtaken by reed canary grass. Trout are already spawning above the renovated fish barrier for the first time in 50 years.
The Montana Department of Commerce has announced the opening of the 2024 Big Sky Film Grant aimed at fostering growth and opportunities for Montana-based projects. The program is funded through the Lodging Facility Use Tax and closes for applications next February 7th. Its primary role is to promote Montana as a media production location for film television and print industries.
