Phillips County News - One Nation, Under God

Another key civil justice reform bill was signed today by Governor Greg Gianforte (R), rounding out a successful year of legislation aimed at rebalancing the state’s courts. Senate Bill 251, sponsored by Senator Cary Smith (R-Billings) and signed...

Freedom was at the forefront this week in Helena. This week at the legislature, we made significant progress in ensuring freedom and protecting liberty for Montanans all across the state. House Bill 702 prohibits discrimination against all Montanans...

April is always a fast-paced month at the legislature, and this year is no different. The Senate has been busy voting on a lot of bills that covered a wide variety of topics. I am confident that the bills we passed will improve the lives of Montanans...

This past Friday was the 68th Legislative Day in Helena. We have 90 days per session to accomplish all we set out to do at the legislature, so that means we are quickly approaching the end of the session. But I am proud of what we have accomplished...

We really had an outbreak of Covid at the Capitol this week!!! Now, no mind games. Read the whole story. The US government, via the American Rescue Plan (ARP) is planning on sending lots of money to Montana. Stop the printing presses. However, since...

The final 45 days of the 67th Montana legislature have begun. Congratulations to the athletes and communities of North Eastern Montana with your representation in district, divisional and state tournaments. Special praise to the State Champion Scobey...

This week marks the mid-way point of the legislative session, 45th day. It corresponds with a deadline requiring bills that do not have money associated with them to be sent to the opposite chamber of the legislature. Many great bills survived the ...

Moving of bills has been slow. We are required by law to have the Senate bills referred to the House at the end of the 45th day, March 3rd. Committees and the floor sessions will be long for the next 10 days. Little fun on the floor today. The State...

February 8th was the 26th day of the 67th Montana legislature. Montana law says that we can meet for 90 days and must approve a balanced budget. Thanks to all of you who have reached out with phone calls or emails. I appreciate your input and will vo...

February 1, 2021 will be the 21st day of the 67th Montana Legislature. The legislature is progressing ahead in Zoom and Teams modes. In other words, we are drinking from the fire hose while we learn and communicate via electronic modes for...

This was a busy week in the legislature. Both the House and Senate acted on large pieces of legislation. As we move toward the end of the 66th legislature, the budget is moving along. I sit on the Senate Finance and Claims Committee where were met on...

On January 7th, 2019 the 66th Montana Legislature will convene. I will be serving in my 4th session on the following committees: As a Senate Finance and Claims member we will analyze the following general government agencies: Department of...

While in Helena at the legislature, I work to pass legislation that encourages good paying jobs and a clean environment. I know that you do not have to choose one over the other. I-186 is proposing to jeopardize those good paying jobs, and possibly...

Montana, and especially I, say thank you to the Montana 2017 special session House and Senate leadership for helping the legislature provide our state with $230 million to replenish the fire fund and provide dollars to shore up the budget problems. L...

Hello constituents of MT SD 17, from your State Capitol in Helena. The special session, called by the Governor, of the 65th Legislature will begin on Tuesday, November 14th. Our local papers will be printed after this letter was written. I trust we...

Big changes are occurring in the fields and prairies of Montana. For the first time since 2003, the state’s ranchers may be delivering their beef across the Pacific to China and the new agriculture secretary is taking the reins. With one eye on...

The 65th Montana legislature ended in late April by balancing a $10.3 billion-dollar- budget for the biennium of 2018 and 2019. My first session was in 2013 and we had about $550 million of general fund cash on hand. However, because spending was...

It is a well-known fact to Montanans that secondhand smoke is dangerous. The Montana Clean Indoor Air Act protects our residents from the harmful effects of the toxins in secondhand smoke by banning the use of cigarettes and combustible tobacco in...

The 2017 legislative session continues to heat up. The Senate is taking action on more legislation and the budget continues to be the main focus. With the Republican-led Legislature back in town we are doing the hard work of developing a...