Government

LAKE COUNTY – A joint meeting of the Lake County Commissioners and Board of Health last Tuesday, March 16, yielded two decisions undoing official actions taken a year ago when COVID-19 caused a two-month shutdown of all but those services and businesses deemed essential.  First, the commissioners unanimously voted to rescind the resolution adopted last March that declared a public health emergency in Lake County. Next, the five-member health board voted to align the county’s policy on mask wearing with Gov. Greg Gianforte’s executive order of Feb. 12, which rescinded his predecessor’s mask mandate.  Comments from the crowded commission chambers and a ...

Windfall is defined as a sudden and unexpected bounty, as when the wind knocks ripe apples or plums from a tree so you don’t have to reach for them or when the federal government promises to send an estimated $2.7 billion in COVID-19 relief money to Montana’s state, local and tribal governments a...

HELENA —At a news conference, Governor Greg Gianforte announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be available to all Montanans beginning April 1, 2021. “A few months ago, projections estimated Montanans 16 and older would be eligible for the vaccine as late as mid-July. I’m pleased to announc...

News from the Office of the Governor   MONTANA  – Governor Greg Gianforte extended the payment and filing deadlines for Montana individual income taxpayers’ 2020 tax returns to May 17.  “Last year brought real, serious challenges to Montanans, and it’s only appro...

News from the office of Governor Gianforte  HELENA — Governor Gianforte signed SB 140 into law, revising laws related to the appointment of district court judges and Supreme Court justices to fill judicial vacancies. “When judicial vacancies occur, I will appoint well-qualified judge...

As we begin the second half of the 67th legislative session, I would like to highlight some very important bills that we can all support for the benefit of Montana. Senate Bill 101 provides permanent authorization of Direct Patient Care in Montana law. Dr. Harrop’s Pure Health DPC in Polson is an ex...

MONTANA – After a dash to wrap up work and consider bills before last week’s transmittal deadline, lawmakers returned to Helena to take up work that included advancing some tax cut proposals championed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, as well as proposals that LGBTQ advocates say would curb their civil ri...

We are halfway through Montana’s short legislative session, and Montanans are still waiting for Republican legislators and Governor Gianforte to get to work on creating the jobs and economic recovery they promised during the campaign season. In their absence, Democrats have led the way. Montanans ar...

News from OPI Montana  MONTANA — Governor Gianforte recently signed into law the Montana TEACH Act (Tomorrow’s Educators Coming Home) – HB 143 – sponsored by Representative Llew Jones of Conrad.   This important legislation is ensuring that Montana’s teachers i...

News from the Montana Department of Revenue  The Montana Department of Revenue reminds Montanans 62 and older that they may qualify for the Elderly Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit, worth up to $1,000.  To receive the credit, a senior must have turned at least 62 in 2020; occupied a Montana resi...