Jason Ellsworth

Sen. Ellsworth gets his punishment. Montana's congressional delegation stands behind the Trump tariffs. Humanities Montana becomes a victim of the DOGE cuts. And, the old fight over who should own public lands resurfaces.

The Montana Senate voted to punish a Hamilton Republican Tuesday following an ethics investigation into claims he abused his power and wasted taxpayer dollars.

Two Republican Senate leaders continue to battle allegations of ethics violations. The governor signs two anti-trans bills into law. The House takes up the main budget bill. A Kalispell Republican loses his effort to name Jesus the ruler of all nations. And the late, great journalist Chuck Johnson is honored at the Capitol.

The Montana Senate failed to agree Monday on a punishment for a sitting senator accused of ethics violations. A majority of senators voted to expel Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth from office, but not enough to surpass the two-thirds majority required for such a move.

The state Senate is mulling an ethics report about one of its own. Lawmakers hope to pass bills to boost teacher pay. The state school superintendent supports eliminating the federal Department of Education. And Montana's congressional delegation has no desire to hold public town halls.

The Montana Senate Ethics Committee published a final report on its investigation into a sitting legislator. It’s now up to the full chamber to decide whether to hand down a punishment.

Legislators have voted forward bills on property tax relief, Medicaid expansion, judicial oversight and more.

Senate Republicans continue to split votes on key issues; Medicaid expansion is well on its way to passage; Montana's congressional delegation isn't concerned — yet — about federal workers being fired; And Montana public school classrooms won't be displaying the Ten Commandments.

Medicaid expansion is one vote away from the governor's desk. The program gives 75,000 low-income Montanans access to health care. A bill that would maintain the state’s program passed a key vote in the Senate Thursday.

The Montana Department of Justice opened an investigation into a Hamilton senator Wednesday. The Division of Criminal Investigation will gather facts to determine whether Republican Sen. Jason Ellsworth is guilty of criminal misconduct.