The Montana Supreme Court has cleared the way for proponents of a abortion rights ballot initiative to begin collecting signatures.
Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen gave backers the go-ahead to collect signatures in compliance with the court order while also responding to a subpoena for the initiative from state lawmakers.
Republican legislators plan to discuss the proposal and vote on whether they support or oppose it. The result of that vote could appear on the ballot if it advances.
The high court had ordered that a legislative review was not legally required and for the ballot to go straight to signature gathering.
It’s the latest in a fast-paced legal fight ahead of a June deadline for the initiative to gather tens of thousands of signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.
While that process can now begin, the initiative approved by the Secretary of State carries an advisory that it did not follow the ordinary process of receiving a legislative review. Initiative backers said Friday afternoon they are reviewing the final petition before signature collection.
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Montana abortion providers will not be subject to new, stringent regulations adopted by the state health department. A judge blocked the rules while a lawsuit plays out. Two Montana clinics sued the state, saying they’ve been singled out for stricter regulation as abortion providers. -
A Lewis and Clark District Court judge says he’ll likely decide in the coming days whether to block regulations on abortion providers passed by the last state Legislature. -
Montanans have voted to enshrine abortion access in the state’s Constitution. -
The two main candidates for governor spar over property taxes, housing costs, and abortion. And the two candidates for the western district congressional race tussle over the same issues in recent debates. -
More than 250 Montana health care providers have signed a letter in support of protecting abortion access in the upcoming election. -
The Montana Supreme Court upheld a temporary block Wednesday on laws that would restrict access to abortion while a lawsuit continues to play out in district court.
