Arren Kimbel-Sannit
Montana has paid only 3,000 return-to-work bonuses
The return-to-work incentive program put forth by Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte in May will likely have delivered $1,200 bonuses to around 3,000 people by the end of its lifespan come January - only a quarter of the 12,000 individuals the state once anticipated paying.
Montana’s federal infrastructure allocation still an open question
Montana, like other states, stands to gain billions of dollars from the recently signed federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a $1.2 trillion bill that emerged as one of the top legislative priorities of the new presidential administration.
Hospital responds to report; stands by claims of threats from state officials
St. Peter’s Health in Helena responded Wednesday to the release of a legislative report about a dispute between the hospital and several state officials, and reasserted claims it first made that “care team members were threatened."
Gianforte asks for more flexibility to spend fed rental assistance funds
Montana officials have conceded there are issues with their approach to disbursing federal rental assistance funds, but have also pointed to the restrictiveness of federal law as a cause for the slow rate of spending.
Montana’s draft marijuana employee permitting rule troubles industry
Marijuana industry stakeholders are concerned that a draft state rule implementing Montana’s adult-use cannabis law appears to limit industry employment opportunities for those with past convictions.
Legislative counsel requests AG’s documents in St. Peter’s dispute
A legislative special counsel tasked with probing allegations that state officials in the Attorney General’s office harassed doctors at St. Peter’s Health in Helena have formally requested documents related to the incident from the AG’s office.
Montana redistricters balk, delay congressional map selection amid discord
Montana’s Districting and Apportionment Commission hit another speed bump on the road to consensus this weekend, postponing the selection of a final congressional map for public review until next week after one proposal failed to gather enough votes.
EPA: Numeric water quality standards are law in Montana until feds rule otherwise
The state of Montana, spurred by a law passed this year, has begun to roll back elements of its water quality standards, even as federal regulators question the science behind the changes, warn of loopholes and maintain that current metrics are law until they confirm otherwise.
Court allows challenge to bill limiting election work on Montana college campuses
A lawsuit challenging provisions of campaign finance legislation passed this year restricting voter mobilization activities on college campuses will be allowed to continue, ruled a Lewis and Clark County District Court judge on Wednesday.
Governor’s briefing: Montana fires slowing down, for now
Cooler temperatures and precipitation have also taken some pressure off the state fire fund. The state has spent $48.5 million out of the fire suppression fund since the beginning of the fiscal year in July, with only $3.5 million coming in the last week.