UM News

Loyalty to the coal-fired Colstrip power plant runs deep, and opponents of wind energy development worry that the view of Montana’s landscapes would be fundamentally altered.

State legislators are considering a study on how shifting funding will affect Montana’s largest state agency, the Department of Public Health and Human Services.

In a state that offers roughly 30 million acres of protected federal and state land and the third-lowest population density in the U.S., there are more opportunities to explore the night sky in Montana than just its parks.

Seventy-seven days into the 90-day session, the Legislature has passed just one property tax reform bill, Senate Bill 117, to the governor.

The effort would start studies analyzing the efficacy of public-school programs like special education, media literacy, school safety and counselors.

To qualify for funding in the coming fiscal year, districts would have to pay educators a salary that is at least 62% of 2025’s average teacher pay.

Senate Bill 117 would require local governments to roll 25% of newly taxable residential property value into reducing rates.

First responders could have treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder covered under workers’ compensation if a bill in the Montana Legislature passes.

The current version sits at around $16.6 billion in spending, with a large portion going toward healthcare and education.

The House gave preliminary approval Friday to a bill that would define sex as binary in Montana law after emotional testimony from lawmakers.