The Montana Supreme Court has rephrased a proposed ballot initiative after its supporters and the state Attorney General clashed over the language. The initiative about abortion access can now advance.
The state’s Supreme Court justices rewrote the proposal after ruling Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s version deficient. However, the court said he made valid points about vague language in the original proposal, which would enshrine abortion access in the Montana Constitution.
Knudsen had originally blocked the proposed initiative from Montanans Securing Reproductive Rights, but was overruled by the state Supreme Court. He was then allowed to provide his own version of the proposal, which supporters challenged as inaccurate.
The court will deliver the final language to the Montana Secretary of State, saying the proposal is ready for signature gathering.
Supporters have until June 21 to collect 60,000 signatures from across the state to earn the proposal a spot on the 2024 ballot.
-
In past years, about 30 patients traveled to Montana annually to access abortion care. In 2023, the first year Idaho’s ban was in full effect, that number rose to 88.
-
Montana Republicans met in Billings over the weekend to update their party’s platform. Montana Public Radio’s Shaylee Ragar was at the event and joined host Austin Amestoy to talk about the Republicans' debate on election law, immigration, abortion and party loyalty.
-
After Roe v Wade was overturned in June 2022, doctors said a wave of young people started showing up in their offices asking for permanent birth control - like tubal ligations or vasectomies.
-
Six Republican state lawmakers Thursday voted in disapproval of a proposed constitutional amendment to protect access to abortion.