Montana Free Press

Lawmakers have spent the last week digging into budget negotiations as House Bill 2, the state's primary budget bill, takes shape. Some of the highest profile debates have been about health care access and how much the state pays Medicaid providers.

Hundreds of bills were left on the cutting room floor at the legislative session's midway point. Now, as lawmakers head into the second half, they're turning more of their attention to finalizing the state’s next two-year budget.

Johnson reported on Montana politics and government for Montana’s largest newspapers and wire services for 45 years before his retirement in 2017. Family and colleagues remember him as a factual and fair reporter, and a generous and deeply knowledgeable mentor.

Reporters Mara Silvers and Shaylee Ragar discuss this week's deadline for lawmakers to pass general bills out of their original chamber. There’s a lot of policy to consider, including rules about access to abortion.

A bill to establish Indigenous Peoples Day in Montana is defeated, but some lawmakers are moving to Plan B. Plus, a debate stirs over property taxes, and Republicans say new legislative districts put them at a disadvantage.

Today is legislative day 31 of 90 — meaning we're a third of the way through the 68th Legislature. This week, lawmakers are starting to piece together the biggest part of the state budget — health department spending — and world views about LGBTQ rights are colliding over rules for public schools.

Host Mara Silvers talks to reporters Arren Kimbel-Sannit, Eric Dietrich and Shaylee Ragar about changes to the judicial branch, the budget surplus and tax proposals.

Gov. Greg Gianforte delivers a State of the State address that focuses on economic growth, but lawmakers are turning their attention to social issues.

The life cycle of legislation is just getting started. The mechanics of public power are sorting and sifting policy — and much of that work starts with the building of relationships.

Host Mara Silvers and reporters Ellis Juhlin and Shaylee Ragar discuss the legislation they're watching this week — along with the schisms between and within the parties that are starting to form.