Constance Van Kley

Sixteen young Montanan’s made headlines when they sued the state – and won – for failing to act on climate change. Republican state lawmakers lambasted the decision. They fast tracked a suite of bills during the 2025 legislative session to limit the ruling's impacts.

Gov. Greg Gianforte this month vetoed two bills that would’ve protected or expanded the public’s right to access government records – including his own.

Hundreds of people rallied at the Capitol last week to ask state lawmakers to pass legislation to protect the environment for future generations. A state Supreme Court ruling last year forces state agencies to consider climate change, but some Republican lawmakers are pushing legislation that could challenge that order.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on whether minors can get an abortion without parental consent.

The Montana Supreme Court Thursday ruled that Gov. Greg Gianforte may be allowed to withhold certain documents from public review. The case centered on the question of whether or not the governor has “executive privilege.” That’s the legal right to keep files and communications private and unavailable for public access.

The Montana Supreme Court hears a case over what documents qualify for executive privilege.

Lake County has settled a class-action lawsuit over conditions inside its jail. The Lake County Jail will construct new housing units and an outdoor recreation area.

Two groups filed lawsuits Wednesday against the governor and the secretary of state arguing that they are violating the Constitution by not allowing lawmakers to vote on whether to override the governor’s veto of a popular bill.

A panel of federal judges has struck down the current map outlining the districts for Montana’s utility oversight commission and implemented a new one. The order comes days before the filing deadline for candidates running for the commission.