Montana lawmakers can now decide if their communication with lobbyists and outside groups is available to the public. That’s due to a court order from a Lewis and Clark County judge.
Montana district judge Christopher Abbott this summer ruled that lawmakers' communications with private individuals were privileged, and therefore not subject to the public’s right to know.
That information was previously kept in public record as part of “junque files”. Those are folders documenting communications between lawmakers and other parties while drafting bills.
Legislator’s staff attorneys say individual lawmakers can sign waivers giving up their privilege and make those communications public, but Abbott’s ruling means they’re not obligated to.
Abbott ordered that copies of bill drafts and lawmakers’ communications with other government officials remain public.
The order came in an ongoing lawsuit over the 2023 Legislature’s redrawing of maps for seats on the Public Service Commission.
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State lawmakers say the City of Laurel’s decision to block water service to a proposed mental health facility may be violating protections for people with disabilities. Lawmakers may withhold state funding if the city doesn’t reverse course. -
State workers will pay more for health care starting next year. State officials say that’s necessary because the cost of the state health plan was higher than expected. The state employees union struck a deal with the state to mitigate some of the price hikes for workers. -
As the next legislative session draws closer, leadership from the Mountain States Policy Center and Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office are trying to gather support for a flat personal income tax for all Montana taxpayers. Advocates promoted the proposal and fielded questions from voters in Helena Thursday. -
After Montana’s Attorney General made an opinion that would kick two moderate Republican lawmakers off the ballot, a district judge has issued a restraining order on the decision – keeping both lawmakers in the race. -
From special education programs to building renovations, commissioners approved a package of recommendations they believe will help patch holes in Montana’s public education system; chief of which is a plan to simplify the schools budget.
