Tom Lutey

Concealing the back-channel communications between lawmakers, lobbyists and stakeholders when drafting bills amounts to the Legislature violating

Senate Republicans worked to get the first week of the Legislature back on track Wednesday, countering a bipartisan revolt that stalled several committees during the session's opening week.

The Montana Senate prepared for a Monday reboot while House lawmakers took their first bites at meaty social issues including a transgender bathroom access bill.

The 69th Montana Legislature is officially under way. This week, host Shaylee Ragar and reporters Tom Lutey and Mara Silvers dig in to how the — literal and metaphorical — sausage gets made and what an early GOP divide could mean for the rest of the session.

As the Montana Senate prepares for a Monday reboot following an opening week stalled by infighting, House lawmakers are taking first bites at meaty social issues, starting with a transgender bathroom access bill.

The Republican governor forecast an aggressive economic and social agenda for his second term.

Republican lawmakers spent nine months of 2024 working on bills to reshape the judiciary. Democrats say the problem is GOP legislators passing unconstitutional laws.

Montana state Sen. Jason Ellsworth is being accused of entering into an inappropriate contract. He counters that he’s the subject of political attacks.

There's no question in Bruce Spencer's mind that, in America, it's the courts who get the last word on what laws are constitutional. It's been that way for 222 years.

Back-channel communications between Montana lawmakers, lobbyists and stakeholders when drafting bills are once again open to the public under a court order issued Tuesday in Great Falls.