Montana Politics: Latest News

As Montana moves into wildfire season, the federal government is looking at some possible dramatic changes to how they fight fires.

Workers in Montana have only had to pay state income taxes on their tips since 2024. If Congress approves one of the bills pushing for “No Taxes on Tips,” that change will go back to the way it was.

Two years ago, a proposal to support ambulance services through a new fee fell short of becoming law. But ambulance providers who backed the bill were hopeful they’d be able to get it through in 2025.

On May 12th, Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 207, which revised laws regarding candidates filing to run in primary elections.

House Bill 819, sponsored by Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, restricts any flags that “represent a political party, race, sexual orientation, gender or political ideology.”

Major General Pete Hronek, the state’s adjutant general and director of the Montana Department of Military Affairs, will step down on June 7.

Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office confirmed Tuesday that he vetoed another 22 bills last week, bringing his total number of vetoes from the 2025 legislative session to 28.

It took until the final days of the legislative session, but lawmakers did eventually hammer out a final plan to revise the state’s property tax system and provide tax relief for primary residences.

A new Montana law will increase the cost for nonresidents to hunt in Big Sky Country. The new revenue will help fund public hunter access programs.

A district court judge in Missoula has put a hold on a new state law that requires Montanans to use the bathroom that aligns with their sex at birth.

Just six months after the end of the hotly contested 2024 elections for Montana Supreme Court, there’s already a race developing for a seat opening up on the court in 2026.

A district court judge in Missoula has struck down a 2023 state law that prohibits gender-affirming health care for transgender youth in Montana – but the decision is already going to be appealed.

Montana’s congressional delegation is calling on federal authorities to reverse a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision and move toward delisting grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act.

Two weeks after the end of the Montana Legislature’s 2025 session, the final outcome for hundreds of bills has yet to be decided, as Gov. Greg Gianforte has the authority to sign or veto them.

Last week, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law House Bill 252 – known as the STARS Act – which makes additional state funding available to encourage school districts to boost starting teacher pay.

An advocacy organization says it’s going to be visiting high schools this year, to see how well they’re doing at preparing students with disabilities for the transition to life after graduation.

Gov. Greg Gianforte has vetoed a bipartisan bill that aimed to ban most Styrofoam products in Montana.

Montana state legislators from Great Falls are highlighting property tax relief and income tax cuts as major accomplishments

On the first day of the session, nine Republican senators voted with Democrats to change the rules the Senate was operating under. It was only the start of what became a session-long storyline.

With the Montana Legislature’s 69th session now officially at a close, leaders have been looking back at what they got done over the last four months.

Only a few hours after the House and Senate adjourned “sine die” – meaning without a date to return – most lawmakers had already packed up their desks and headed out of the State Capitol.

A lot has been said about President Trump's first 100 days in office and in Montana, a first-term Congressman also reached 100 days more than two weeks ago.

As lawmakers approach the end of the Montana Legislature’s 2025 session, they’ve tied together two major bills in what could be the final version of their plan for property tax reform.

In the 2025 Montana Legislative Session, lawmakers backed a bill that would see the tax credits continue, although with some changes.

Monday was the start of what will be at least the last full week of the Montana Legislature’s 69th session – but all indications are that lawmakers will wrap things up even sooner.

Throughout the 2025 Montana legislative session, lawmakers have debated whether to change how the state allocates the money it gets from taxes on legal marijuana sales.

A Missoula District Court Judge has heard arguments about a Montana law that bans gender-affirming care for minors.

Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed a bill into law that he says will give an important tax break to Montana businesses.

House Bill 551, sponsored by Democratic Representative Melissa Romano of Helena, would set aside $600,000 in the state budget annually.

After Wednesday, there are just ten working days left in the Montana Legislature’s 69th session. Property tax relief remains one of the biggest open questions.