Jennifer Carlson

For many children, back-to-school also means back to the doctor for mandatory vaccines. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this year that the use of non-medical vaccine exemptions is on the rise.

Health department officials are asking legislators to change criminal commitment laws amid a bottleneck at the Montana State Hospital.

A veto override effort for a bill aiming to reform Montana’s child welfare system failed by just a few votes.

There aren't many Democratic fingerprints on the budget passed by the House. Montana's Legislature is just one of several targeting transgender issues. And state Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen gets an earful on a statewide tour. Is she aiming for higher office?

We’re on day 55 of the 90-day session. This week we’re talking about health care funding, childcare initiatives and vaccine bills.This is The Session, a look at the policy and politics inside the Montana statehouse.

This year, lawmakers have introduced proposals to expand vaccine exemptions in schools and change criteria in the workplace and the legal system.

Montana lawmakers Monday narrowly voted down a bill that would have funded suicide screening for middle and high school students.

Montana lawmakers are considering changes to how the state spends millions of dollars generated by marijuana sales on mental health and addiction treatments.

Bills to reform Montana tax policy, support missing persons search efforts and overhaul Child Protective Services move through the Legislature. Host Mara Silvers and reporters Ellis Juhlin and Shaylee Ragar discuss the legislation they're watching this week — along with the schisms between and within the parties that are starting to form.

Montana lawmakers are considering a package of bills to change the state’s response to a decade of growth in child abuse and neglect cases. Montana saw the fastest increase of children in foster care of any state in the nation between 2010 and 2019, according to the Annie. E. Casey Foundation.