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Montana Politics

Montana News

To fast track logging projects, USDA sidesteps public input process

Elinor Smith

Recent changes to federal environmental rules mean some logging projects are moving forward without public input. Tristan Scott works for the Flathead Beacon, and has been covering a 13,000-acre logging project moving forward west of Blacktail Mountain in the Flathead. He sat down with MTPR’s Elinor Smith to share his reporting.

Watch: The Session 2025 legislative recap

Learn about the key bills, big debates, party politics and what’s next for Montana’s laws from the journalists who were there. Watch the recording of our live legislative recap.

Montana News

Montana farmers talk policy goals, economic strains at annual convention

Victoria Traxler

Montana Farm Bureau Federation held its 106th annual conference this week. Farmers gathered to vote on how their organization should lobby on state and federal issues.
Montana News

Montana Supreme Court rejects AG's rewrite of judicial elections initiative

Shaylee Ragar

A proposed ballot initiative to keep Montana’s judicial elections nonpartisan is advancing after the state Supreme Court ruled that the attorney general overstepped by rewriting the measure.
Montana News

Montana delegation opposes renewal of health insurance tax credits

Shaylee Ragar

The federal government shutdown has ended, but not the debate that started it. Republicans have promised a vote on health insurance subsidies that Democrats want to fund. Montana’s all-GOP congressional delegation says the subsidies need to end.
Montana News

Rep. Zinke sponsors bill to require country of origin labeling for beef

Victoria Traxler

Country of origin labeling helps consumers know where the food they’re buying came from. It’s required for products such as fruits and vegetables, and proteins like seafood and chicken. Missing from that list since 2015 are pork and beef.
Montana News

Partial SNAP payments underway in Montana

Aaron Bolton

Montanans are now receiving partial federal food benefits. State health officials say they sent the money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, Sunday.
Montana News

Bozeman Rep. Ed Stafman resigns from the state Legislature

Victoria Traxler

Stafman served in the Legislature for three terms, representing the Bozeman area since 2020. Prior to his resignation, he sat on the Law and Justice Interim Committee.
Montana News

Montanans face higher costs, hard decisions as health subsidies near expiration

Aaron Bolton

Open enrollment for Marketplace health plans is underway, Many Montanans could face steep premium hikes if Congress doesn't renew existing tax credits. That debate is at the heart of the federal government shutdown. MTPR’s Aaron Bolton reports on what that would mean for one Montanan.
Montana News

Partial SNAP payments to begin mid-November, health department says

Aaron Bolton

State health officials say they are working to quickly send partial payments to families on federal food assistance. A court ordered the Trump administration to partially fund the SNAP program during the federal government shutdown.
Montana News

Legislative panel begins investigation into campus censorship claims

Shaylee Ragar

A new legislative committee met Monday to start digging into questions about free speech on college campuses.
Montana News

Voters can register for the Nov. 4th elections until 8 p.m. on Election Day

Victoria Traxler

The final day to cast votes for local government elections is Nov. 4. It’s too late to return your ballots by mail, but you can drop them off or vote in person on Election Day. Registration and voting are open until 8 p.m Tuesday.

Capitol Talk is MTPR's weekly legislative news and analysis program. MTPR's Sally Mauk is joined by Lee Newspapers State Bureau Chief Holly Michels and UM Political Science Professor and Mansfield Center Fellow Rob Saldin.

Capitol Talk

News and analysis from the Montana Legislature.

The Session

A breakdown of the latest action we’re watching in the statehouse.

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Politics

Montana politics, elections and legislative news