Land Board greenlights $1.7 million for Montana’s public schools.
Montana’s public schools are set to receive a major funding boost. During its last meeting the Montana Land Board approved roughly $1.7 million in revenue for education. With over 5.2 million acres under its care the Land Board’s mission is rooted in Montana’s Constitution which calls for income from state trust lands to benefit public schools.
Senator Sheehy Introduces Bill to Restore Backpay for Service Members Discharged Over Biden’s COVID Vaccine Mandate
U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana introduced the COVID-19 Military Backpay Act of 2025 to restore pay and benefits to around 100,000 servicemembers discharged under Biden’s vaccine mandate, which was later deemed illegal. The bill allows voluntary claims for backpay, after the mandate led to the discharge of 8,500 active-duty members and barred 60,000 from service.
Montana Seeks More Foster Families to Support Growing Number of Children in Care
Montana faces a shortage of foster families needed to care for about 2,200 children entering foster care annually according to the DPHHS. In 2023, Montana had just 1,200 licensed foster families, according to data from the nonprofit child welfare publication, The Imprint. Montana Court Appointed Special Advocates are emphasizing the importance of the need for foster families in providing stability and support to children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Federal judge OKs class-action lawsuit against state’s largest insurance carrier
Federal Judge Brian Morris has certified a class-action lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield the largest insurance carrier in Montana. It is based on allegations the company denied thousands of large dollar claims of more than $50,000 without proper medical review leaving residents with insurance to face large medical bills or bankruptcy for procedures it deemed not medically necessary.
Montana Shows Sharp Drop In People Enrolled In Medicaid
While Congress debates the Trump Administration’s budget and the potential for Medicaid cuts a new report by the non-profit KFF shows Montana had the sharpest drop in Medicaid enrollment in the post-pandemic years dropping 36% between January 2023 and January 2025. Montana is one of only ten states with a drop of those ensured by Medicaid of more than 30%.
Attorney General Knudsen speaks out on elder abuse in Montana
Following World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Sunday Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen spoke Monday urging Montanans to watch out for scams and other forms of elder abuse. Knudsen said that because Montana has an older population than many other states its citizens are particularly vulnerable. AARP reports there are more than 369,000 cases of financial abuse targeted at seniors across the country every year.
Missoula court debates attorneys’ fees in SB 458 challenge
The Missoula County Courthouse was the site of a district court hearing Monday focusing on ACLU of Montana’s attorneys’ fees related to a challenge against Senate Bill 458 which had been ruled unconstitutional. The State of Montana argued against its fee claims. Brianne McClafferty representing the plaintiffs emphasized the importance of skilled legal support.
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The Montana Historical Society has launched a final fundraising campaign to complete the Montana Heritage Center. $1 million is still needed to reach the capital campaign goal of $60 million. The facility in Helena will serve as Montana’s premier destination for preserving and sharing the state’s rich history. The drive runs through July 30th.
Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital will celebrate the official start of construction on its new St. Vincent Regional Hospital with a groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon at 1. The full-replacement hospital will be located on the St. Vincent campus east of the current hospital. It will be a 14-floor 737,000-square-foot facility.
The Helena Public School District has officially approved plans to ask taxpayers this fall to fund replacing and renovating some of its aging school buildings. The school board of trustees voted to proceed with bond requests totaling $283 million emphasizing the urgency of addressing Helena’s schools current conditions and how they impact students.
Montana’s Constitution requires each student to receive an equal opportunity for a quality education and in 2005 the legislature required lawmakers to study costs behind education and potentially modify the funding formula every 10 years to keep the state in line with that constitutional requirement. The School Funding Interim Commission will study and make potential recommendations for changes before the 2027 legislative session.
The Billings Regional Landfill will roll out a new program July 1st. The driver’s license scan system is designed to streamline the process of identifying whether the driver lives within city limits of the county but is built with privacy in mind. It’s about real-time verification and any personal data isn’t saved.
