Click any of the articles below to read the most recent news about Montana politics and elections.
Montana Politics Latest
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Education savings accounts law ruled unconstitutional
A state judge has ruled the Montana law that created education savings accounts for students with special needs is unconstitutional.
Plaintiffs in Held climate lawsuit file second suit against state of Montana
A year after the Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of a group of young plaintiffs in the Held v. Montana climate lawsuit, 13 of those 16 plaintiffs are challenging another set of state laws.
Knudsen will head national effort to elect GOP attorneys general candidates
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has been elected to lead the national organization that advocates for electing Republican attorneys general.
NorthWestern Energy goes to regulators with plans for larger share in Colstrip
At the end of the year, NorthWestern Energy is set to take over majority ownership of the Colstrip power plant.
Montana Ag: What 'Waters of the U.S.' changes could mean
The Trump administration is proposing changes to the definition of what bodies of water are considered “the waters of the United States.”
New design features for Montana driver's licenses
Department leaders say the new design is intended to be more secure and harder to copy, to protect against fraud and identity theft.
Montana PSC: Regulator dismisses Molnar's ethics complaint against Bukacek
It’s just the latest step in an ongoing string on controversies that has surrounded the five-member commission for much of the year.
Christmas tree lights up Montana Capitol
Monday at the Montana State Capitol, leaders marked the start of the holiday season by lighting the Capitol Christmas tree.
Applications open for MT 'homestead' tax exemption, but many already enrolled
Monday is the first day that Montana property owners can formally apply for a tax exemption that could significantly affect their property tax bills starting next year.
State commission will evaluate job performance of Montana judges
Judicial reform was a major topic during the Montana Legislature’s 2025 session. While a number of the proposed bills didn’t become law, one that did was Senate Bill 45.
Montana leaders expect to start distributing federal broadband funds soon
Last week, federal authorities announced they had approved Montana’s plan to distribute hundreds of millions of dollars to expand high-speed internet service across the state.
Montana looking at a new way to ensure non-citizens are not voting
Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, the state’s top election official, says her office will use a federal database to step up efforts to check registered voters for U.S. citizenship. -
Prickly Pear Land Trust dealing with federal grant uncertainty
Changes in federal government programs this year have had ripple effects down to the local level – and that’s included impacts on conservation organizations.
Signature gathering begins for ballot measure on nonpartisan judicial elections
A ruling this week from the Montana Supreme Court means that signature gathering can begin for one of the proposed ballot measures that seeks to ensure Montana judicial elections remain nonpartisan.
Montana PSC approves partial rate increase for NorthWestern Energy
After two days of discussion and debate, the Montana Public Service Commission has made its decision on NorthWestern Energy’s proposals to increase electric and gas rates.
Gianforte will chair the Republican Governors Association in 2026 election cycle
Going into the 2026 election cycle, Gov. Greg Gianforte has been chosen to lead the national organization that advocates for electing Republican governors.
Groups sue Montana over exempt wells water impacts
Earlier this month, MTN reported on changes in how Montana is handling water rights for developments that use “exempt wells.” Now, a new lawsuit is challenging the use of exempt wells altogether.
Montanans start seeing effects of new property tax laws
Across Montana, homeowners are starting to see the first evidence of the changes lawmakers made to property taxes earlier this year.
Montana U.S. Senate race: Daines up for third term, three Democrats running
One year before the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Montana, voters had already been seeing political ads on TV for more than three months.
Montana's Eastern Congressional District: Downing running, two Democrats file
Since Montana was divided into congressional districts again in 2022, the state’s 2nd Congressional District has been dominated by Republicans.
Montana Western Congressional District: Zinke up for re-election, 2 challengers
There’s now less than a year to go until the 2026 elections in Montana. Three members of Montana’s congressional delegation are up for election next year.
Montana leaders talk about plan to reopen government
The longest federal government shutdown in history has dragged on for more than 40 days, but it appears Congress is now on a path toward reopening.
Some are worried after state warns subdivision's water rights aren't secure
Across Montana, homeowners are finding themselves in a legal limbo, as the state says it’s had to change the way it regulates water rights for certain subdivisions.
Supporters ask Montana Supreme Court to revive political spending ballot measure
The sponsors of a proposed ballot initiative that aims to keep corporations from spending money in Montana elections are now going to the state Supreme Court. -
Montana Supreme Court upholds state vaccine discrimination law
In a unanimous ruling, the Montana Supreme Court has upheld a 2021 state law that banned discrimination based on whether someone has been vaccinated.
McKnight responds to release of highly charged voicemail to Sheehy's office
Just a day before Helena’s city elections, Sen. Tim Sheehy’s office said they received a threatening voicemail earlier this year from one of the candidates: Haley McKnight, running for commission.
Montana PSC controversies continue as Molnar files ethics complaint on Bukacek
A week after the commission that regulates Montana utilities removed its president, the controversy surrounding the agency is far from over.
Montana's congressional delegation pushing back on plan to import Argentina beef
When President Donald Trump announced a plan last week to import more beef from Argentina, it drew quick criticism from ranchers in Montana.
Election officials contacting voters who had ballots rejected due to new law
Across Montana, election officials are warning they’ve seen a number of voters tripped up by a new state requirement this year: that mail voters write their birth year when signing ballot envelopes.
SNAP advocates want state to step in; Gianforte says it's federal responsibility
On Nov. 1, federal authorities say funding will run out for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps lower-income families pay for food.
