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Montana House Approves Draft of Bill to Spend $3 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Relief; Senate Panel Advances Budget Ahead of a key deadline on April 8, the Montana Legislature is quickly advancing a bill to spend billions in federal COVID-19 dollars as guidelines for how that money can be spent continue to roll in. House Bill 632, sponsored by Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, and dubbed the “Beast Bill” by lawmakers, advanced out of the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, March 29, and cleared the full House on an 83-14 vote just three days...
Look What’s Law: Governor Signs Bill Reducing COVID-19 Liability, Rolls Back Mask Mandate Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed into law a major COVID-19 liability bill, which soared through the Montana Legislature during its first month. Senate Bill 65, sponsored by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, greatly reduces the extent to which businesses, healthcare professionals, and manufacturers of personal protective equipment are liable for harm related to COVID-19. The bill sets a higher bar for lawsuits, changing the standard from ...
HELENA -- Americans pay four times more on average for prescription drugs than people in other countries, John Doran of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana told a panel of lawmakers Friday in support of Senate Bill 137, introduced by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls. The bill would force prescription drug companies, pharmacies and health insurance providers to disclose information to Montanans about why prices are so high. Richard Miltenberger is the CEO of Mountain Health Co-op, and said the bill is an important first step in reducing drug...
HELENA -- A controversial bill that expands where concealed weapons are allowed passed the Montana House of Representatives Thursday. Legislators voted along party lines, with 66 Republicans voting for the bill, and 31 Democrats voting against it. Three lawmakers did not vote. House Bill 102 allows Montanans to carry a concealed firearm without a permit anywhere they would normally be allowed to open carry, including inside banks. During a tense debate in the House Wednesday, the bill’s sponsor, Representative Seth Berglee, R-Joliet, said h...
Whatever happens in the Nov. 3 election, western Montana voters will elect a fresh face to Montana's Public Service Commission, the body that decides what utilities can charge home and business owners for energy. With no incumbent in the race, this year's open contest features former state Sen. Jennifer Fielder, a Republican from Thompson Falls, versus former PSC staff attorney Monica Tranel, a Missoula Democrat, now a private attorney representing renewable energy clients. The candidates in...
