While Missoula and Bozeman are perfectly suited to let voters consider local measures, including the regulation of single-use plastics, a bill passed by the Legislature in 2021 gives more power to lawmakers from the likes of Circle and Malta – both located hundreds of miles away – than it does to municipal voters grappling with local issues.
Led by several from Missoula and Bozeman, Montanans testified in favor of a bill to reverse a law passed two years ago that prohibits cities and towns from taking individual action to limit single-use plastics.
With overwhelming public support, members of the Missoula City Council on Monday gave final approval to a resolution urging the state Legislature to hand back local control on a number of issues, including a community's authority to regulate plastic.
The Missoula City Council on Wednesday became the first in what's expected to be many Montana cities asking the Legislature to restore local control to communities – a right that was lost with a sweeping bill passed two years ago.