Ratepayers in central and eastern Montana will have a new commissioner shaping their bill when the state’s largest district by geography elects a new member to the Public Service Commission. Term-limited Republican Randy Pinocci will step down after eight years of overseeing District 1, which spans 20 state house districts. Republican Jeff Pattison is running against Democrat Angeline Cheek

U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have announced the rollout of a sweeping bipartisan proposal that would enact major changes to the Senate’s governing rules. The senators say the changes would help restore the Senate’s purpose of robust debate and bipartisan policymaking so that the Senate can legislate effectively and tackle pressing challenges facing the country.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications in Montana for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, which helps landowners, land trusts and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands or protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers the largest long-term investment