Montana Legislature

House Bill 5, the bill containing funding for the Missoula College passed it's third reading in the Senate by a vote of 30-20 on Tuesday,April 16, and will now head to the floor of the House for it's second reading on Thursday, April 18, at the earliest.

On Wednesday, The Montana Senate Finance and Claims Committee to table a $180 million dollar state plan to fund building projects on state campuses, including monies for the Montana College project in Missoula.

Legislature says Missoula College location to be decided by University, not protesters.

Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica Lindeen praised the passage earlier this week of Senate Bill 84, that promotes lower health care costs through the "Patient-Centered Medical Homes" model.

Activists who want to reform the Montana education system will hold a rally on the Capitol steps in Helena Monday at noon.

On January 23, the first of many bills related to Montana's business equipment tax will make its way to a hearing at the legislature.

A Montana state senator will propose a constitutional amendment to require a balanced national budget.

The governor's budget director is challenging the Montana Legislature for painting what he describes to be an artificially gloomy budget picture. David Ewer told an interim committee of lawmakers Monday it is now clear that more money was available than the Republican-led Legislature used for its budget. Democrats say that money could have been used for many things, such as more state construction

The commission charged with drawing Montana's legislative districts is adopting a new statewide approach rather than doing it piecemeal by region. The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission made the decision Tuesday in hopes of having a proposed map for public review by year's end.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer says a tally of lawmakers show there won't be enough votes to override any of his vetoes. Schweitzer was busy with his veto pen this past legislative session, rejecting 79 bills. The Democrat faced a Legislature dominated by Republicans, and the two sides sparred frequently.