By Clayton Murphy | UM Legislative News Service HELENA – Two bills aimed at barring inactive voters from being counted on petitions to qualify initiatives to be included on Montana ballots hit the House State Administration Committee on Feb. 25. Both would change the same section of Montana law, only counting active voters in signature counts. Rep. Zack Wirth, R-Wolf Creek,

By Clayton Murphy | UM Legislative News Service HELENA — Montana’s minimum wage could be increased to $12.06 an hour if a bill introduced to the House passes. Rep. Kelly Kortum, D-Bozeman, introduced House Bill 484 to the House Business and Labor Committee on Feb. 24. Supporters said the state’s current $10.55 rate doesn’t match the cost of living, but opponents

By Clayton Murphy | UM Legislative News Service, University of Montana School of Journalism Montana Senate Skirmishes Continue HELENA — A session-long power struggle in the Montana Senate came to a head last week when 18 Senate Democrats and nine moderate Republicans joined forces, sparking nearly three hours of late-night, contentious debate on committee assignments and bill referrals.  Those debates on

By Clayton Murphy | UM Legislative News Service HELENA — Proponents of a bill in the Montana House say an estimated 2,500 children could be added to a Montana childcare scholarship if it passes. House Bill 457 would change eligibility for the Best Beginnings Scholarship, a fund that currently only applies to families with incomes less than 185 percent of the