Bozeman Codifies Tenant Counsel Right; Funds Montana’s First Rental Mediation Program
Bozeman now has the first rental mediation program in the state after the city commission unanimously passed a resolution provisionally adopting program goals and an ordinance codifying a tenant’s “right to counsel,” along with funding to support it. The program’s development has been informed by landlords, renters, Montana State University, and legal experts.
New Mental Health Facility Requires More Funding Than the $27M Lawmakers Approved, State Says
According to Dan Villa, Executive Director of the Board of Investments, and Charlie Brereton, head of Montana’s health department, the nearly $27 million appropriated by the Montana Legislature to construct a new state-run mental health facility near Laurel is unlikely to cover the actual cost. There is currently no timeline for when a revised total will be available.
Judge Rules Montana DMV Discriminated Against Nonbinary Residents, Orders Changes
Montana District Court Judge Shane Vannatta has ruled that the state’s Motor Vehicle Division discriminated against a nonbinary resident, identified in court documents as M.B., by refusing to accept the nonbinary sex designation listed on their legal birth certificate. The judge’s order requires changes to MVD procedures—likely including software updates—to accommodate nonbinary identifiers and ensure equal treatment for all residents.
Montana Teen Wins New Big Game Wildlife Art License Plate Contest
Montana’s roads are about to get a fresh look thanks to a winning design in the new Montana Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings License Plate art contest. The design, created by Kylie Bute, a 2025 graduate of Gallatin High School in Bozeman, features a majestic bull elk approaching a wildlife crossing beneath mountain peaks. The artwork captured the judges’ attention and earned Kylie a $1,000 cash prize.
Montana Trucking Schools Could Be Shut Down Due to Federal Policy Changes
The U.S. Department of Transportation may revoke the CDL certification of Western Montana Growers Co-op, Montana Roadside Service LLC in Missoula, and Gallatin Valley Signs LTD. The schools have 30 days to provide evidence of compliance to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to avoid losing certification. The Cut Bank School District has also been placed on notice. The CDL programs face loss of credentials for various issues, including failure to meet curriculum standards, inadequate facility conditions, or insufficient instructor qualifications.
More Headlines
Nearly 60 primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants at Logan Health clinics in northwestern Montana have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize with the Union of American Physicians and Dentists. In response, Logan Health has announced plans to hire 10 full-time equivalent employees across its clinics by January 15.
Missoula County commissioners are urging Congress to restore federal funding for a major road-upgrade project in East Missoula that has been on hold since the Trump administration rescinded a $24 million construction grant in July. The project was later removed from the federal reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, targeted enforcement and harsher federal sentencing are sending a strong message to drug traffickers and contributing to a decline in fatal overdoses statewide. While fentanyl deaths are trending downward in Montana, carfentanil is becoming more common.
The Montana Environmental Quality Council has approved a letter requesting federal funding for projects that would extract rare earth and critical minerals from legacy mining sites across the state. Given Montana’s long mining history, there is renewed interest in recovering minerals from waste sites, including the iconic Berkeley Pit in Butte.
The annual Festival of Trees kicks off this evening at MetraPark in Billings with a gala and fundraiser. More than a dozen decorated trees and Christmas displays are on view at the Pavilion. The event serves as a major fundraiser for the Family Tree Nursing Center of Billings.
