News Category: 2023 Montana Legislature and Politics

Transportation Interim Committee discusses two electric vehicle bills in Montana

The draft legislation is PD003, which would establish an annual fee on electric vehicles in Montana, and PD007, which would establish a tax on electric vehicle charging stations.

Tax increases likely: City of Missoula fighting inflation, state’s ‘broken’ tax system

The state’s current tax system may be the biggest outlier facing local governments across the state. The Legislature has consistently rejected a number of proposals that would help local government find additional revenue without relying solely on property taxes.

The Legislature has killed a proposed tourist tax every session and it recently revoked the local option fuel tax passed by voters, which would have helped fund road maintenance and repairs.

Montana Interim committee votes down motion to access funds in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

An interim legislative committee rejected a proposal on Monday to appoint one Democrat and one Republican to draft a bill outlining how the state could access newly announced federal funds allocated to address gun violence and mental health in schools.

Montana’s Draft Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan Now Available for Public Comment

The draft plan describes Montana’s strategy, vision and goals for spending Montana’s $43 million allocation of federal funds over the next five years under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula (NEVI) Program.

Montana lawmakers debate increasing film tax credit; advocates say it boosts local businesses

Kevin Costner was pictured this week perusing Scheels, a sporting goods store in Missoula, while lawmakers in Helena debated whether or not to extend and increase a tax credit designed to attract film moguls like…

Great Falls city, county officials meet with legislators to talk about their needs

“We have a housing crisis at this point,” opened Jolene Schalper, Senior Vice President of the Great Falls Development Authority.

Montana adding red tape to those who need help with healthcare

During the last session of the Legislature, Montana Republicans pushed forward legislation that requires Montanans to continuously prove their eligibility for Medicaid– every few months, you must report your income to the state government, despite the fact that you already told them when you signed up for Medicaid and you’re already required to reapply every year like everyone else with insurance does. Montana Democrats fought against these new requirements, but the Republicans were dead set on adding additional superfluous red tape to one of the state’s largest and most critical insurers.

Montana leaders discuss future of education system at Helena meeting

The Montana Legislature’s Education Interim Committee and Education Interim Budget Committee held a special joint meeting to focus on the role each stakeholder plays in the education system and how they can work together.

Montana Supreme Court OKs ballot initiative to make pre-K a constitutional right. Montana will have until June 17 to gather more than 60,000 signatures if they want to put the question to voters in November.

After a ruling by the Montana Supreme Court, proponents of making preschool a constitutional right in Montana will have until June 17 to gather more than 60,000 signatures if they want to put the question to voters in November.

Missoula hires firm to review successes, gaps in plan to end homelessness

This week, members of the City Council approved a $42,000 contact with JG Research and Evaluation to take a comprehensive look at Reaching Home: Missoula’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness.