Legislature vs. Courts

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 Thursday signed into law a package of bills aimed at changing the state’s bedrock environmental policy. Lawmakers were eager to modify the policy following a landmark climate ruling in December.

A fourth attempt to make judicial elections partisan has failed in the Montana Legislature. GOP lawmakers and Gov. Greg Gianforte put partisan judicial elections at the top of their priority list in an effort to further regulate the third branch.

The 69th Legislature has less than a month left. Today, we're talking money. This is The Session, a look at the policy and politics inside the statehouse. This week, MTPR's Shaylee Ragar is joined by Eric Dietrich from the Montana Free Press.

It's week 13 for the 69th Legislature. Proposals to regulate the judiciary are seeing limited success. And a public utility is seeking legislative protection during wildfire season. This is The Session, a look at the policy and politics inside the Montana statehouse.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen asked the Montana Supreme Court Friday to dismiss any punishment for violating rules of conduct. The charges stem from strong language the attorney general used to rebuke the high court in a 2021 case.

Montana’s governor signed a bill Tuesday dictating how judges may determine whether to block laws that are challenged in court.

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.

Montana’s new chief justice of the state Supreme Court gave lawmakers a “state of the judiciary” address Monday. The Republican-backed justice cautioned GOP lawmakers against impeding the courts.

A landmark Montana Supreme Court decision last year struck down laws passed by Republicans that would have changed Montana's bedrock environmental policy. Now, GOP lawmakers have introduced a suite of bills to undo the court's ruling.