Montana Free Press

The state Senate endorsed previously stalled legislation that would provide for a top-two primary in the 2024 race for the U.S. Senate — an “experiment,” sponsor Sen. Greg Hertz testified. Critics decry a partisan power grab and silencing of Libertarians.

The staffing shakeup comes almost a year after Carter Anderson’s appointment.

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.

Montana’s SB 99 cleared a Senate vote Tuesday after an hour of debate.

Gov. Greg Gianforte celebrated U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s initial finding while environmentalists cast doubt on the state’s ability to manage the Montana state animal.

The Tuesday ruling leaves transgender advocates and the state health departments in another legal standoff.

The Legislature began its 68th session with partisan speechifying and a minor rules fight.

After a year of unsuccessful requests, election critics in the Montana Legislature will get a special committee focused on election security.

The GOP-led committee approved the report on party lines after chair Sen. Greg Hertz stripped language accusing the chief justice of the Montana Supreme Court of lying.

House Bill 702 had barred employers from mandating vaccines or requiring employees share their vaccine status. U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy ruled that it was unconstitutional and conflicted with federal law.