By Emma White | UM Legislative News Service, University of Montana School of Journalism HELENA – The House gave preliminary approval on April 11 to a bill that would define sex as a binary in Montana law after emotional testimony from lawmakers. Senate Bill 437, which earlier passed in the Senate with a 31-18 vote, is one of a series of bills
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By Emma White | UM Legislative News Service, University of Montana School of Journalism HELENA – The Senate debated and advanced a bill on April 10 that would tighten residency requirements for voters, which proponents say will make sure that each county’s voters are a permanent part of the community. But, opponents say the measure will unfairly restrict student voters. House Bill
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By Emma White | UM Legislative News Service, University of Montana School of Journalism HELENA – Legislators deliberated a bill on April 9 that proponents say will provide a much-needed definition and framework for consultation between the state and tribal governments, while opponents say it will add cumbersome government regulations to state agencies. Senate Bill 379, sponsored by Sen. Susan Webber,
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By Emma White | UM Legislative News Service, UM School of Journalism A bill that would ask voters to vote on a constitutional amendment to define personhood as starting at conception sparked contentious debate in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 8. Sponsored by Rep. Lee Deming, R-Laurel, House Bill 318 is one of the few surviving bills seeking to restrict abortion
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By Emma White | UM Legislative News Service, University of Montana School of Journalism The House of Representatives advanced a bill on April 7 that would provide continuous eligibility for two years for kids younger than six enrolled in the Healthy Montana Kids program. The sponsor says it will address gaps in health insurance coverage for children. The current system for the
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By Emma White | UM Legislative News Service, University of Montana School of Journalism Since she lost her home, the four walls of Chloe Carlson’s tent have served as her sole source of shelter. Carlson’s two cats serve as her heaters during winter storms. She pitches her tent on a slight incline to prevent flooding in rainy weather. She knows a thing
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By Clayton Murphy and Emma White | UM Legislative News Service, University of Montana School of Journalism Senate Votes to Censure Hamilton Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth HELENA — The Montana Senate decided on a long-drawn ethics investigation into Hamilton Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth last week when Republican Majority Leader Tom McGillvray moved to revoke nearly all of the former Senate President’s privileges,
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By Clayton Murphy | UM Legislative News Service HELENA — Early childhood education facilities and day cares could be eligible for a slice of a $10 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services if a bill in the Montana House can gain traction. House Bill 945 would allow two facilities per county to apply for up to $500,000
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By Clayton Murphy | UM Legislative News Service HELENA — The Montana House of Representatives approved a preliminary version of House Bill 2, the 63-page bill that sets the state’s budget for the next two years. The draft, clocking in at $16.6 billion, passed after a full day of discussion and debate on April 2 with both bipartisan support and opposition.
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By Clayton Murphy| UM Legislative News Service HELENA — A long-drawn ethics investigation into Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, came to a head on April 1 when Majority Leader Tom McGillvray moved to revoke nearly all of the former Senate president’s privileges, including a lifetime ban from the chamber. McGillvray’s motion passed the two-thirds requirement at 44 to 6—a decisive victory after
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