After a decade of failed attempts, members of Montana’s American Indian Caucus were stunned when a bill establishing Indigenous Peoples Day as a legal state holiday flew through the Senate with bipartisan support, clearing the chamber last month. The initial success of the legislation, which faced significant criticism last session, is indicative of a larger pattern. At this legislative

Montana’s Supreme Court has reaffirmed the state’s longstanding commitment to government transparency, rejecting efforts by lawmakers to conceal the inner workings of the legislative process. The ruling in Saslav v. Howe is a victory for open government advocates and a critical test of the state’s constitutional right to know. At the heart of the decision was whether the Montana Legislature

Virtual meetings on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations are in the process of being scheduled. Meeting dates and times will be announced as the details are finalized. In-person public meetings on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations, which were scheduled for March 19, 31 and April 2 will be presented in a virtual format. Meetings have previously been held in

Transmittal break has arrived! After two weeks of solid action the work of the first half of the Session is complete. There is always a rush of bills in the two weeks preceding the general bill transmittal deadline and this session was no exception. All general/non-revenue bills must have passed through their chamber of origin and be transmitted to the next chamber by the halfway point of the Session,

Montana Farm Bureau members traveled to Washington, D.C. recently to participate in the American Farm Bureau Issue Advisory Committee meetings. Selected state Farm Bureau members are appointed to committees to discuss agricultural issues of concern and surface ideas to be presented to their county Farm Bureaus. MFBF members this year included Greg Gabel, technology, Jess Bandel, market structures,