Articles with the Tag: Montana Legislature
News from Rob Bird, Montana Judicial Branch MONTANA - The Judicial Branch will begin accepting applications today through Feb. 28, 2025, for the Chief Water Court Judge. Current Chief Water Court Judge Stephen Brown was appointed to fill the duration of the current term, which expires on July 31, ...
It’s hard to predict which direction the 2025 Montana State Legislature will take. One path encourages Montanans to be divided and angry, fighting for scraps and looking for scapegoats. The other is a path towards prosperity, freedom, and a better future. Legislators who would trample Montanans&rsqu...
Serving 16 years in the Montana legislature taught me much about the do’s and don’ts of crafting a state budget. Legislators are charged with deciding how to use hard-earned Montana taxpayer dollars to make government work for the people. It was our job as legislators – Republicans and Demo...
Montana is at a crossroads in our management of wildlife. We will either maintain our decades-long tradition in which everyone has equal opportunity to enjoy our public wildlife, or we hand control to a handful of wealthy landowners and outfitters to pick who gets to hunt. A bill pending in the stat...
Montana is at a crossroads in our management of wildlife. We will either maintain our decades-long tradition in which everyone has equal opportunity to enjoy our public wildlife, or we hand control to a handful of wealthy landowners and outfitters to pick who gets to hunt. A bill pending in the stat...
As a dentist in my professional life, I have the responsibility of making sure my patients maintain great oral health and overall health. I also have the tremendous honor of serving the Chair of Joint Subcommittee on Health and Human Services in the Montana legislature, which is responsible for making sure M...
Tax increment financing (TIF) is a policy driver that incentivizes private developers to develop in areas they would not otherwise develop, e.g., 100-year-old vacant blighted structures full of contaminants on rural Main Streets. Why? They can’t cash flow them. They can’t maximize their profits. ...
Property tax relief is a top priority for Senate Republicans this legislative session. I’m sponsoring one such bill, SB 2, which reforms how tax increment financing (TIF) districts sunset – if they ever do – in order to lower property taxes for all local taxpayers. Essentially, the bill rew...
News from Montana State Democrats HELENA — On Feb. 6, Senate Democratic Leader Pat Flowers moved to refer the ongoing ethics investigation into Sen. Jason Ellsworth to the Montana Department of Justice. Sen. Flower’s motion also suspended the Senate Ethics Committee’s work pending a de...
The right to private property is one of the fundamental aspects of life in America, and the Constitution makes sure to establish this. Following that example, the drafters of Montana’s State Constitution included safeguards for private property as well, with ownership and protection of property appeari...
