The Montana House passed House Bill 207 on second reading Thursday. It would increase the number of signatures for independent legislative candidates from 5% of the winner’s vote in the last election to 10%. If the bill becomes law it is likely to be challenged in court. Montana only had two independent candidates for the legislature on the ballot in 2024 so the state would be hard pressed to explain its interest in doubling the old requirement.
A Montana Senate ethics investigation into Senator Jason Ellsworth’s possibly unethical contract arrangement with a former business associate was paused Thursday and referred to the Montana Department of Justice. The decision reverses the Senate’s unanimous vote last week to send the case to the Ethics Committee and to effectively carry out an investigation into a member of its own branch of government.
The approval and subsequent court-ordered obstruction of the U.S. Forest Service’s “Black Ram Project” in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest is up for a panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to sort out after the court heard from multiple sides Thursday. Several conservation groups say the project would clearcut forest destroy and fragment habitat displace wildlife alter hydrology and adversely affect the area’s grizzly bear population.
A proposal to lower state income taxes had its first hearing Thursday in the Senate Taxation Committee. Senate Bill 203 would make the top income bracket starting point for the higher rate at $100,000 for single taxpayers $200,000 thousand for married joint filers and $150,000 for head of household filers. It would apply retroactively to the 2025 tax year for those that are able to adjust their returns.
$2.67 billion is expected to be distributed by Blue Cross Blue Shield to about six million people after a lawsuit was filed in 2013 against 35 health insurance plans including those held by Montana subscribers. The settlement includes people who were covered between 2007 and 2020. The status of a claim can be checked on the Blue Cross Blue Shield website. An update on the settlement’s website states claim determination notices are being emailed on a rolling basis.
Montana lawmakers are once again considering bills that would restrict abortion access. Some of the legislation may directly conflict with the state’s voter-approved constitutional right to abortion in the 2024 election. Republican lawmakers have passed more than a dozen anti-abortion bills in recent years. All have been blocked in court.
The Montana Department of Commerce launched the Opportunities in Rural Economies Program Thursday. It will offer low-interest loans in partnership with participating lenders and forgivable loans to accelerate business growth encourage job creation and diversify Montana’s economy. $7.5 million will be available for loans and $500,000 for grants.
U.S. Magistrate Kathleen DeSoto has ruled a private home on the banks of McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park can remain. The Flathead Conservation District had found the building was in violation of the Montana Streambed Protection Act and ordered it removed but DeSoto said the Conservation District lacked the authority to enforce state law inside of Glacier National Park.
Senator Steve Daines has introduced legislation which he says will support Montana schools by reauthorizing the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program. It supports more than 700 counties across the U.S. an Puerto Rico that formerly relied on timber receipts but no longer receive that funding due to the lack of logging projects.
The Montana Public Service Commission is taking action after numerous complaints from Big Timber residents about missed trash pickups by Republic Services. Thursday the PSC hosted a listening session to gather public complaints and hear Republic Services’ response. Commissioners will deliberate over the coming weeks to decide on the next steps.
