Governor Greg Gianforte Signs Drunk Driving “Bobby’s Law”
Governor Greg Gianforte held a ceremonial signing of Bobby’s Law at the Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse headquarters in Evergreen Wednesday which will make it easier for prosecutors to pursue felony convictions in cases involving a drunk driving fatality. The bill’s namesake Robert “Bobby” Dewbre was struck and killed by a drunk driver in March 2023 while crossing the road near the intersection of U.S. 2 and Montana 40 outside of Columbia Falls.
Montana Tribes Join Lawsuit Against Senate Bill 490 Over Disenfranchisement of Native Voters
A coalition of Montana tribes has joined a lawsuit opposing Senate Bill 490, alleging it will disenfranchise Native voters. Filed by the ACLU and Native American Rights Fund, the complaint claims the law’s changes to Election Day registration disproportionately harm Native voters in rural and tribal areas, who already face voting barriers. Supporters argue it aims to reduce long lines and aid election workers.
Governor Gianforte Finalizes Montana Budget with Increased Funding for Tribal Colleges and Repatriation Efforts
Governor Greg Gianforte has finalized Montana’s two-year budget, boosting investments in Indian Country. The budget increases funding for tribal colleges by about 27% for non-beneficiary students and allocates $367,665 to the University of Montana Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act team.
Trump’s decision to rescind ‘Roadless Rule’ impacts Montana
The Trump Administration is rescinding 25-year-old protections that prevent road construction and development in national forest roadless areas. In Montana roughly 6.93 million acres of national forest fall under the Inventoried Roadless Area designation but 39 percent of that is restricted from any kind of road building or development by the 2001 rule. The other 61 percent allows road construction and reconstruction.
Senate parliamentarian rules public land sales cannot be part of budget bill
The U.S. Senate parliamentarian has ruled a provision in the “Big Beautiful Bill” to mandate the sale of more than 2 million acres of federal public land cannot be included in the legislation. Montana’s federal delegation has come out strongly against the sale of any public lands and this is the only Western state that was exempt from the proposal.
Montana Heritage Commission’s New Long-Term Lease Program To Revitalize Historic Properties
The passage of House Bill 680 grants the Montana Heritage Preservation and Development Commission the flexibility to offer lease terms long enough to make capital improvements feasible and sustainable. It allows public-private collaborations that preserve Montana’s heritage while activating underutilized properties in Virginia City Nevada City Reeder’s Alley and beyond.
States Where People Are Most Diligent With Credit – WalletHub
Staying diligent with credit includes responsibly managing debt and keeping a close eye on your credit report for any errors. Today WalletHub released its latest report on the States With the Most Credit-Diligent Residents. The personal-finance website ranks Montana 13th with residents who actively work to avoid credit-score setbacks.
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The Montana Department of Revenue has mailed notices to potentially eligible property owners of a $400 rebate containing information about it and how to apply for it between August 15th and October 1st. Property owners who owned and lived in their principal residence for at least seven months in 2024 are eligible for either the $400 or the total property taxes paid on their principal residence in 2024 whichever is less.
The family of former Montana Democratic U.S. Representative Pat Williams announced Wednesday evening that he has passed away at the age of 87. He served 18 years in Congress and was Montana’s longest consecutive-serving U.S. House of Representatives member. In 1997 he retired from Congress and returned to Montana where he resumed his role as a teacher at the University of Montana.
National Institutes of Health Director Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya made a visit to Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton Wednesday. Bhattacharya who is the first Indian American to lead the NIH was confirmed by the Senate in March. His visit came after dozens of RML employees lost their jobs as part of mass federal layoffs impacting the National Institutes of Health earlier this year.
The Montana Department of Commerce recently awarded several Opportunities in Rural Economies planning grants including two in Lake County. In Ronan Mission West Community Development Partners will receive $20,000 to assist Missoula Electric Cooperative in a feasibility study of an energy efficiency program. Table 10 Restaurant in Polson will receive $1,993 for an energy audit.
The Best Friends Animal Society’s annual data recently reported Butte-Silver Bow Animal Shelter reached no-kill status in 2024. It is a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters. The Butte shelter saved 90% or more of the dogs and cats that entered last year.
