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The state Supreme Court denied former Republican and Democratic state officials’ motion Thursday to expand their legal challenge against Senate Bill 140 that granted the governor a broader selection to fill judicial vacancies after they motioned the court to include Senate Bill 402 the backup to the original legislation. The justices noted bill has not…
Governor Greg Gianforte signed two bills into law Thursday. Senate Bill 159 reduces Montana’s top income tax rate to 6.75% beginning next year. Senate Bill 399 reduces it to 6.5% in 2024 simplifies Montana’s tax code and reduces the number of tax rates from seven to two. Montana will stop supplemental unemployment insurance payments from…
Governor Greg Gianforte says Montana will launch a return-to-work bonus program using federal funds authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act. Return-to-work bonuses will be paid to unemployed individuals who rejoin the labor force and accept and maintain steady employment for at least one month. The state will end its participation in federal pandemic-related unemployment…
A new law approved by Governor Greg Gianforte Monday was met by a lawsuit Tuesday with a majority of the owners of the Colstrip Power Plant calling it unconstitutional. It forces disputes among the power plant’s six owners to be settled through Montana courts instead of Washington as currently spelled out by the Colstrip Ownership…
House Bill 429 has been signed into law by Governor Greg Gianforte. It requires a majority of lawmakers in both the House and Senate to approve of any emergency suspensions of the election laws in the state. If the Legislature isn’t in session at the time, the new law requires the Secretary of State to…
Governor Greg Gianforte signed two laws Monday nullifying portions of the Colstrip Ownership and Operation Agreement that has governed the Colstrip Power Plant for 40 years. In a tweet, he described the new laws as retaliation against Washington clean energy laws that have imposed a ban on coal power that begins at the end of…
With Mother’s Day around the corner and mothers regaining jobs lost due to COVID-19 at a faster rate than fathers, the personal finance website Wallet Hub today released its report on 2021’s best states for working moms. Montana ranks 23rd based on 17 key metrics. The data set ranges from the median women’s salary to…
U.S. officials said they will consider whether to reintroduce wild bison to a million-acre (400,000-hectare) federal wildlife refuge in central Montana. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans in July, “to engage Tribes and stakeholders on the topics of bison and bighorn sheep reintroductions” on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. Gov. Greg Gianforte…
Two Helena men were found dead Monday morning after a boat crash on Hauser Reservoir near Devil’s Elbow. According to Lewis and Clark County Undersheriff Brent Colbert, the sheriff’s office received a call about a welfare check on two overdue boaters just before midnight. The men have been identified as 42-year-old Michael Rice and 51-year-old…
A proposed amendment to Montana’s State Constitution has passed the Legislature and will appear on the ballot in 2022 for ratification by voters. It would change the state’s constitution to protect the privacy of Montanans’ electronic data and communications. Montana’s persons paper homes and effects are already protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. Thursday Governor…