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• Gov. Bullock takes action on dozens of bills Play Video

  May 7, 2013 10:16 AM

  HELENA - Montana Governor Steve Bullock (D) took action on nearly 70 bills on Monday, signing some and vetoing others. It was a critical day for the administration as they were running up against a final deadline on several major spending bills. Bullock signed two bills which attempt... more »

• Deadlines looms: Bullock to determine fate of 70 bills

  May 6, 2013 3:40 PM

  HELENA - Monday marks a critical deadline for Governor Steve Bullock as he is forced to make a decision on over 70 bills. Many of the bills which are still pending action involve large amounts of state spending. The Legislature sent the governor hundreds of bills on the final... more »

• Montana House committee tables Medicaid expansion plan Play Video

  March 28, 2013 9:20 AM

  HELENA - Governor Steve Bullock's plan to extend Medicaid coverage to more Montanans suffered a blow on Wednesday as Republicans on the House Health and Human Services Committee tabled the proposal. Representative Scott Reichner (R-Big Fork) says the long-term financial commitment to providing government health care to more Montanans... more »

• Number of certified medical marijuana users in MT cut nearly in half

  February 24, 2012 6:20 PM

  Since the Montana Legislature cracked down on the medical marijuana industry, the number of cardholders has been cut in half. Data from the MT Department of Health & Human Services indicates that at the end of January 2012, there were just under 16,000 people certified to legally use medical... more »

• MT medical marijuana law sponsor admits disappointment over Judge's ruling

  July 1, 2011 8:31 AM

  BILLINGS- Republican State Senator Jeff Essmann of Billings admits that he's disappointed with a judge's ruling Thursday that stopped key provisions of the new medical marijuana bill from going into effect at midnight, but he says many other key parts of the bill were allowed to remain in tact. ... more »

• New MT marijuana rules could create new black market

  May 3, 2011 10:14 PM

  BOZEMAN- Several states have started reassessing their medical marijuana laws after stern warnings from the federal government that everyone from licensed growers to regulators could be subjected to prosecution. Meanwhile, Montana's medical marijuana businesses are still reeling following actions of the Montana Legislature to dismantle the fledgling and controversial... more »

• Montana lawmakers bring 62nd session to an end

  April 28, 2011 11:44 PM

  HELENA- The Montana Legislature has officially wrapped up its work at the Capitol and the final day of the 62nd Session is now in the books. Lawmakers worked late into the evening on Thursday to finish up this session, tackling the two major issues keeping them in Helena: the... more »

• Schweitzer, GOP leaders agree to budget deal

  April 22, 2011 9:44 PM

  HELENA- Governor Brian Schweitzer and Republican legislative leaders say they have reached a compromise deal on the state budget. The deal comes in the midst of a five day legislative recess, called by GOP leaders to give them time in the session's final days to react to a possible... more »

• Schweitzer takes action on numerous bills

  April 19, 2011 8:46 AM

  HELENA- Governor Brian Schweitzer took action on numerous bills on Monday. All of the below items are listed according to bill number, bill sponsor, and general bill title. (You can look up and read more about each bill at the Montana Legislature website.) The Governor signed the following bills:... more »

• GOP leaders recess legislature until next Monday

  April 14, 2011 8:43 AM

  HELENA - Republican leaders at the 2011 Montana Legislature have decided to delay the end of session for at least another three days. The 62nd Legislative session was originally scheduled to adjourn on April 21st. But because the GOP is waiting to see what Governor Brian Schweitzer does with... more »

• Legislature hopes to conduct research on veterans home

  April 8, 2011 5:52 PM

  COLUMBIA FALLS- The Montana Legislature wants to conduct research on the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls to find out the cost and benefits of privatizing the administration of the home. A House Joint Resolution was introduced by Whitefish Representative Bill Beck this week. The Legislature has considered reviewing... more »

• Hundreds gather in Helena to protest budget cuts

  February 21, 2011 7:11 PM

  HELENA - Several hundred people rallied at the Capitol steps in Helena on Monday afternoon to urge the Legislature to stop cutting funding for public employees and their programs. The Rally to Save Public Services and Education was co-organized by the Montana Education Association-Montana Federation of Teachers (MEA-MFT) and... more »

• Proposed bill allows employees to drive a gun to work

  February 2, 2011 7:52 PM

  HELENA- A Republican lawmaker wants to make it legal to have a firearm in a locked vehicle at work. Representative Wendy Warburton says her bill is about 2nd Ammendment rights and protection. Her bill allows an employee to carry a gun to work and leave it in their locked... more »

• Medical marijuana repeal issue draws crowd in MT Legislature

  February 2, 2011 6:21 PM

  HELENA- The halls of the state Capitol in Helena were packed once again as the Montana Legislature takes up the issue of medical marijuana. Speaker of the House Mike Milburn (R-Cascade) is proposing a bill to repeal the state's medical marijuana act. Initial reports indicate that 28 people... more »

• Proposed bill calls presidential birth records into question

  February 2, 2011 6:19 PM

  HELENA- Montana could be one of a handful of states to join in a movement calling for presidential candidates to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship. Montana State Representative Bob Wagner (R-Harrison) is carrying a bill that would require presidential candidates and congressional candidates to file copies of their... more »

• Vote-by-mail fails in MT Legislature

  January 28, 2011 8:04 PM

  HELENA - The proposed measure to mandate voting by mail in Montana failed in the Legislature on Friday, going down by a 42-57 vote. The outcome came at a surprise to many since the measure had passed a second reading on Thursday in a 57-43 vote. The bill... more »

• MT lawmakers take up issue of "ultrasound prior to abortion"

  January 28, 2011 7:26 PM

  HELENA - A bill in the Montana Legislature would require a woman seeking an abortion in Montana to have an ultrasound first and that brought about some passionate debate from both sides of the issue on Friday. Montana State Representative Ken Peterson (R-Billings) asked, "Is this bill an attempt... more »

• Lawmaker wants to increase term limits for MT legislators

  January 20, 2011 5:41 PM

  HELENA - A state lawmaker wants to increase term limits for Montana legislators. Montana law currently prohibits a legislator from serving eight or more years in any 16-year period. Republican Roy Hollandsworth of Brady wants to increase that number to 12 or more years in any 24 year... more »

• MT GOP accused of giving pay raise to state lawmakers

  January 12, 2011 6:00 PM

  HELENA- House Republicans are being accused by Democrats of giving a pay raise to legislators after voting to slash the state budget. The GOP-controlled House gave second-reading approval to House Bill 1, a spending bill that pays for the cost of running the 2011 Legislature, on Wednesday afternoon. ... more »

• Day Five: Montana Legislature at a Glance

  January 7, 2011 8:01 PM

  HELENA- Friday, January 7, 2011 Montana Legislators wrapped up their budget training, and began preparing to start hearing bills next week. Legislators prepared for the Jobs Listening Session which will be held at the Capitol, Saturday, January 8. Over 100 businesses will come to Helena on Saturday to tell... more »

• Day Three: Montana Legislature at a glance

  January 5, 2011 8:52 PM

  HELENA- Wednesday, January 5, 2010 legislators met for the first time in committee. The meetings were focused on getting organized, and talking about their perspectives budgets. The Joint Subcommittee on Education also met to discuss the education budget. Montana Superintendent of Schools Denise Juneau, Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns,... more »

• Budget talks off to rocky start in Helena

  January 4, 2011 9:10 AM

  HELENA - Balancing the state budget will be the biggest challenge facing lawmakers during the 62nd gathering of the Montana Legislature, and it looks like that's already off to a bit of a rocky start. "This budget that the Governor proposes it reflects his values, it provides more money... more »

• Court dismisses Schweitzer's suit against legislature

  December 29, 2010 1:52 PM

  HELENA - District Court Judge Kathy Seeley has granted a motion by attorneys for the Montana Legislature to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the Legislature in September by Governor Brian Schweitzer. In its ruling, issued Wednesday, the District Court said, "While (the governor) alleges that the Legislature's actions in... more »

• Schweitzer meets with new state legislative leaders

  November 24, 2010 11:20 AM

  HELENA - Governor Brian Schweitzer sat across the table from the new leaders of the Montana House and Senate on Tuesday in a session that demonstrated a sense of cooperation. Montana State Representative Mike Milburn of Cascade and Montana State Senator Jim Peterson of Buffalo, both Republicans, expressed their... more »

• Milburn, Peterson tapped to lead Montana Legislature

  November 17, 2010 3:15 PM

  HELENA - Before the Montana Legislature meets in January, there's some business to take care of in Helena. Members of the Legislature gathered on Wednesday to select new leaders for the 2011 session. In the Montana House of Representatives, Mike Milburn (R-Cascade) will be the new Speaker, and... more »

• Legislature seeks dismissal of Governors lawsuit

  November 17, 2010 8:33 AM

  HELENA - The Montana Legislature is asking the courts to dismiss the Governor Brian Schweitzer's recently filed lawsuit. The Governor took action back in September, challenging the constitutionality of House Bill 676, saying it covers more than one subject. Legal staff told Legislative Council on Tuesday that they... more »

• Wolf bills in the works for 2011 MT legislative session

  November 4, 2010 11:37 PM

  HELENA - It appears that Montana's wolf population may be a popular subject for state lawmakers at the 2011 legislative session in Helena. There are currently at least five different wolf-related bills are in the draft process, ranging from revising laws related to the state management of wolves to... more »

• Schweitzer reacts to big GOP wins in Montana Legislature

  November 4, 2010 9:57 PM

  HELENA - Political winds of change swept through the Capitol on Tuesday as Republicans gained control of the Montana Legislature. But in Governor Brian Schweitzer, the executive branch is still held by a Democrat. We sat down with the Governor to get his thoughts on what this means for... more »

• Election could tip balance in Montana Legislature

  October 26, 2010 11:18 AM

  HELENA- Election day is just around the corner and that means changes in leadership for the Montana Legislature. Heading into the election, Montana Republicans have secured more seats in both the House and the Senate than Democrats. During the previous legislative session, the Republicans controlled the Senate with... more »

• MT Legislature rejects Schweitzer's proposed settlement

  October 25, 2010 6:31 PM

  The Montana Legislature on Monday formally rejected Governor Brian Schweitzer's proposed settlement of a lawsuit that he filed several weeks ago. The decision came after last week's heated meeting between the Governor and two members of the Legislative Council. The Legislature is standing behind its decision to pass... more »