The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
Sorted by date Results 26 - 35 of 35
A bill tromping through the Montana Legislature would repeal a 2007 law that sought to protect the authenticity of the almighty Montana huckleberry by requiring that anyone labeling something as "huckleberry" register their berry patch with the state Department of Agriculture. "Not a single person ever told the government where their huckleberries were. Because, I believe the first rule of huckleberry club is: 'Do not tell anybody where your huckleberries are,'" Cort Jensen,...
Bill Aims to Strip Clean Air Act and Allow Smoking Indoors If a bill in the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Safety committee gets approval from lawmakers, businesses could again allow smoking indoors, but only if people under the age of 18 are not permitted in the establishment when smoking is allowed. Sen. Jeremy Trebas, R-Great Falls, is sponsoring Senate Bill 205, which would revise the Clean Indoor Air Act and allow private establishments to obtain smoking licenses...
In the last 11 years, the city of Havre has had 255 water main breaks. The city's public works director, Dave Pederson, says 46 of those breaks happened in the last two years alone. "During main breaks, large sections of the city are without water for a long period of time," Pederson said. Restoring Havre's water system is at the top of a long list of water, sewer and other infrastructure projects across the state that lawmakers are considering in the 2023 Montana...
Gov. Greg Gianforte Touts Tax Relief, Eliminating "Red Tape" in Second State of the State Address HELENA – Gov. Greg Gianforte told the Montana Legislature in his second State of the State speech that he expects lawmakers to address issues like childcare, tax relief, and affordable housing. "We laid out an ambitious agenda with our sights set on building a place where more Montanans are realizing the American dream," Gianforte said. "We know our journey is far from over. We s...
HELENA – One week before Gov. Greg Gianforte was scheduled to give his State of the State address to the Montana Legislature, a panel of lawmakers tabled and then revived one of the flagship bills in his tax package, which would spend a quarter of the state's nearly $2 billion surplus on property tax relief for homeowners. In the Legislature's third week in Helena, two key property tax bills got hearings in the House Taxation Committee – House Bills 222 and 189. Rep. Tom Wel...
Supporters Say Clarifying "Proficiency-Based Learning" Will Allow More Students to Personalize Their Education HELENA – Supporters of a bill that aims to allow more Montana students to access so-called "proficiency-based learning" say it is essential to keeping students interested in school. Sen. Shannon O'Brien, D-Missoula, is sponsoring Senate Bill 8 on behalf of the Education Interim Committee. The bill would add definitions of proficiency-based learning, which O'Brien s...
HELENA -- The Senate will now debate a bill passed in committee Friday that would double the limit on payments to landowners who opt to participate in the Block Management Program, which allows public hunting on private land through contracts with the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department. Sen. Steve Hinebauch, R-Wibaux, is sponsoring Senate Bill 58, which would increase the maximum payments for landowners from $25,000 to $50,000. The committee voted to move the bill to th...
HELENA – The laws that regulate water, arguably Montana's most valuable natural resource, are complex and tied to nearly every industry in the state, so when lawmakers gather in Helena every two years for the legislative session, it's often at the top of the agenda. In the 2023 Montana Legislature, the water debate is shaping up to focus on two pieces of legislation: one that would tackle the future of water courts and another that would update the water permitting process. B...
Lawmakers Take Oath, Elect Leadership HELENA – The 68th Montana Legislative Session kicked off on Monday, Jan. 2, in Helena. Senators and Representatives took an oath to uphold the constitution and were sworn in during simultaneous ceremonies in their respective chambers at the state Capitol. Republicans hold a so-called "super majority" with 68 of the possible 100 seats in the House and 34 of the 50 Senate seats. Republican Representatives chose Rep. Matt Regier, R...
HELENA – As the 68th Montana Legislature gets into full swing in Helena, party leaders say affordable housing, the cost of living, access to child care and reducing red tape will be some of the top issues lawmakers will attempt to tackle in the 90-day session. Republicans hold control of the governor's office and the Legislature, and in the Legislature, they hold what is called a "super majority" with 68 of the 100 House seats and 34 of the 50 Senate seats. Republican party l...
