Montana Judge Temporarily Blocks House Bill 121, Restricting Transgender Access to Public Facilities
Today Montana District Judge Shane Vannatta has temporarily blocked House Bill 121, which restricts transgender individuals’ access to public bathrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping areas that don’t match their sex at birth. Governor Greg Gianforte signed the law last Thursday. Judge Vannatta ruled that the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are likely to prevail, stating the law lacks evidence to support its claims of enhancing women’s safety. The temporary block will remain in effect until an April 21 hearing regarding the lawsuit’s progress.
Montana Receives ‘C-minus’ Grade in Infrastructure Report Card, Faces Broadband Access Challenges
Montana is a large state that must deal with years of underinvestment in critical infrastructure. A new ‘report card’ by the American Society of Civil Engineers gives the state a grade of a ‘C-minus’ and recommends finding dedicated funding and update its regulations to make improvements. Montana scored “incomplete” in the broadband category where only 71% of broadband service meets today’s high-speed standards compared to 93% nationally. The Montana Broadband Office has a goal of statewide access by 2030 but it currently ranks at the bottom nationally. The 2021 federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated 775-million dollars for broadband projects nationally including almost 100-million for Tribal communities. Report Card Committee Chair Darren Olsen.
(Darren Olsen for Tribal communities)
Prison expansion out-of-state beds on deck in Legislature’s budget debate
Montana has roughly 20% of its male inmates in out-of-state prisons owned by the private prison operator CoreCivic. This week the House of Representatives will consider tripling its original payout to the company to $24 million as part of the state’s budget over the next two years. Since 2023 that number has increased from 120 to 600 now living in out-of-state prisons.
Gianforte signs $52M public school funding inflationary increase at East Helena school
Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 15 into law Tuesday. It allocates $52 million to the state’s base budget for K through 12 public schools to account for inflation over the past two years. The inflationary adjustment is signed into law in most sessions but the 3% in this bill is the maximum allowed under current law for public schools.
Montana Republican senator given severe punishment by colleagues
Senator Jason Ellsworth censured Tuesday by his colleagues over ethics violations concerning a contract controversy from his time as Senate President in the last session. A legislative auditor says Ellsworth wasted state resources and abused his position in government. Ellsworth has apologized for the appearance of impropriety but has denied any wrongdoing.
Unemployment claims in Montana decline
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Montana dropped in the week ending March 22nd compared with the week before. New jobless claims fell to 530 down from 543. U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 224,000 down 1,000 from 225,000 the prior week on a seasonally adjusted basis. Kentucky saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims jumping by 59.6%. The Virgin Islands saw the largest percentage drop of 75%.
House Considers Bill Requiring Training for Judges on Child Abuse and Domestic Violence
Montana Judges could be required to take child abuse and domestic violence trainings if a bill in the Montana Legislature passes the House. Senate Bill 318 would help judges deal with suspects in abuse cases whose personalities are manipulative. The bill passed the Senate on a 47 to 3 vote before moving to the House.
Montana Supreme Court to hear oral argument at University of Montana
The Montana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at the University of Montana Friday morning in the Dennison Theatre and the event is free and open to the public. At 9:30 the justices will hear an oral argument that raises legal questions involving the rights of defendants in criminal cases to make alternative arguments. The oral argument provides an opportunity for people to watch the Montana Supreme Court in action.
More Headlines:
The Missoula Food Bank and Community Center is expecting a reduction in a source of food after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed $500 million in previously announced Emergency Food Assistance Program purchases have been permanently canceled. The program ensures families facing food insecurity have access to food by moving surplus products from farms to food banks and ultimately to the tables of neighbors in need.
The Montana VA Health Care System is scheduled to host in-person PACT Act claims clinics at Fort Peck April 7th and the Crow Agency April 8th. Both claims clinics will cover the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act and will include programs and education for Veterans on key programs such as the new PACT Act expansion.
A proposed bill in the Montana Legislature would limit city-mandated parking spaces in residential developments to boost housing affordability. House Bill 492 would restrict parking to one space per unit in new constructions and eliminate requirements for certain existing buildings and smaller housing units.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined 25 other attorneys general in urging the Trump administration to close a program known as “Entry Type 86” which allows small packages to enter the United States with minimal screening. The argue it is being used by drug traffickers to smuggle drugs into the country.
