Death At Montana Lottery Triggers Cross-Training
The Montana Lottery regulates the gaming industry and administers products like Montana Millionaire and Montana Sports Bet. The agency is developing written procedures to begin the process of cross-training employees to ensure accounting practices aren’t concentrated on a single person after Armond Sergeant the lottery’s financial director died earlier this year. He was the only person trained in accounting and reporting the agency’s revenues.
High court affirms decision siding with UM in decade-long student loan dispute
The Montana Supreme Court has sided with the University of Montana over the school’s student loan repayment process with a third party. In a class-action lawsuit students claimed Higher One subjected them to excessive bank fees and the university disclosed their personal information to the company without their consent between 2010 and 2015.
Gianforte signs law cracking down on illegal hiring during stop in Evergreen
During a stop in Evergreen Wednesday Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill into law that expands the state’s authority to police illegal hiring practices. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry can now audit employers for documents such as I-9 forms that are used to verify an employee’s legal working status. Employers face a fine of up to $2,500 for each unverified employee they hire and may have their business license suspended after a third violation.
Leaders kick off movement to stop corporations from spending on political campaigns
In the 15 years since the “Citizens United” court case the amount of money spent on elections has increased 2,800%. Wednesday former Montana Commissioner of Political Practice Jeff Mangan kicked off the “Transparent Election Initiative.” The state constitutional amendment would prohibit corporations from making political campaign donations.
Privacy in the Big Sky State: Montana’s Consumer Privacy Law Gets Amended
Montana’s recently amended privacy law through Senate Bill 297 is effective October 1st. It strengthens consumer protections and requires businesses to revisit their privacy policies that apply to citizens of Montana. The attorney general may issue civil investigative demands and need not issue any notice of violation or provide a 60-day period for the violation to be corrected. With the amendments nonprofits are no longer exempt unless they are set up to detect and prevent insurance fraud.
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Effective today some Yellowstone National Park rivers and streams will close to fishing daily from 2 in the afternoon to sunrise the following day due to warm water temperatures and low river flows. The “hoot owl” closures will remain in effect until conditions improve to protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries and will remain in effect until conditions improve.
The Ravalli County Weed District is receiving $20,320 from the Montana Department of Agriculture for bio control bug program billboards and public bug-collection days. The grant agreements will go toward expanding the district’s noxious weed education events and efforts. The district provides a comprehensive list of noxious weeds in Ravalli County on its website.
The National Association of County Agricultural Agents will host the 2025 Annual Professional Improvement Conference in Billings from June 29th to July 2nd. The conference will provide an opportunity for members of the agricultural industry to learn and connect with others. Montana was selected to host the event more than four years ago.
Shields Valley residents allege the Crazy Mountain Ranch is using Rock Creek water to irrigate its golf course illegally. The dispute has surfaced larger questions about water right administration and enforcement in Montana. Whether the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will do anything with the request for enforcement remains to be seen.
The Billings City Council is drafting a letter to the Public Service Commission after council members stated their disapproval of NorthWestern Energy’s 17% rate increase. Billings leaders estimate an increase of budget expenses of nearly $1.5 million for its utilities as the body considers a $440 million proposed budget.
