Senate Passes Bill to Protect Women’s Sports in Montana
The Senate passed House Bill 300 on Thursday, protecting Montana women’s sports programs from biological men. The bill, now headed to the Governor’s desk, prohibits biological men from participating in women’s sports and mandates sex-segregated facilities in educational institutions. This legislation aims to safeguard female athletes’ safety and competitiveness. In January, the US Department of Education announced it would enforce Title IX protections based on biological sex.
Senator Steve Daines Visits Beijing to Tackle Fentanyl Crisis and Trade Issues Amid U.S.-China Tensions
U.S. Senator Steve Daines of Montana is in Beijing amid U.S.-China tensions over fentanyl trade and tariffs. After meetings in Vietnam, Daines arrived Thursday, aiming to discuss curbing fentanyl production and distribution with Chinese officials. He also plans to address reducing the trade deficit and ensuring fair market access for Montana’s farmers, ranchers, and producers, as he shared earlier this week on X.
School meal programs on GOP’s chopping block
Some 75 Montana schools serving more than ten-thousand students are projected to be impacted. The proposed 12 billion dollars in cuts to school meal programs are part of a sweeping effort by Republicans to eliminate waste and inefficiency in the federal budget. Erin Hysom with the Food Research and Action Center says these funds are an important public investment. As some 75
Zinke Assures Western Montana Infrastructure Projects Will Proceed Despite Funding Delay
Rep. Ryan Zinke assured that western Montana infrastructure projects worth over $21 million are not dead despite a funding delay. Congress passed a temporary budget excluding these projects, but Zinke plans to secure future funding. The projects include sewer systems in Seeley Lake and Ravalli County, road improvements in the Flathead Valley, and a new library in Troy. Zinke remains committed to supporting Montana’s community infrastructure.
Montana Legislature Approves Pay Raises for State Employees and Lawmakers
The Montana Legislature approved pay raises for state employees, including legislators, despite some opposition. House Bill 13 increases employee pay by $1 an hour or 2.5% of their current wage over the next two years. Legislators’ pay will rise to 80% of the average hourly wage in Montana by 2027 and 100% by 2029. The bill passed the Senate 38-12 and the House 71-27, and is now headed to the governor’s desk. Governor Gianforte included wage increases for lawmakers in his proposed budget.
238 Pounds of Cocaine Seized at Montana Border Crossing; Driver Arrested
Canadian police seized 238 pounds of cocaine from a commercial truck at the Sweetgrass border crossing in Montana on March 8th. The truck, registered in Canada but originating from the U.S., was searched by the Canada Border Services Agency. The driver, 26-year-old Arshdeep Singh of Calgary, Alberta, was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. The Sweetgrass crossing is about 35 miles north of Shelby, in Toole County.
DOGE Removes Proposed Cuts to Missoula and Kalispell Social Security Offices
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) removed proposed cuts to the Missoula and Kalispell Social Security Offices from its website on Wednesday. An official stated the future of the leases is still under review. DOGE had listed these offices among over 700 leases for potential cuts, including a dozen in Montana. The Animal and Plant Inspection Service in Billings was also removed from the cuts page.
