Tom Lutey

2 weeks ago | montanafreepress.org | Amanda Eggert |Tom Lutey

Without giving consumers a heads up, NorthWestern Energy on Friday said it will increase electricity rates for consumers by $204 a year, without review from Montana’s utility regulator. Documents filed with Montana’s Public Service Commission indicate that rates increased $17.07 a month for NorthWestern’s typical residential customers without prior approval from regulators or notifying its customers.

2 weeks ago | montanafreepress.org | Tom Lutey

Get an insider’s look into what’s happening in and around the halls of power with expert reporting, analysis and insight from the editors and reporters of Montana Free Press. Sign up to get the free Capitolized newsletter delivered to your inbox every Thursday. May 22, 2025Nevada Democrats were heaping praise on Montana Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan  Zinke on Thursday for objecting to the proposed sale of hundreds of thousands of federal acres in Nevada and Utah. Nevada Democratic U.S. Rep.

2 weeks ago | flatheadbeacon.com | Tom Lutey

Courts A 27-bill effort to limit the state’s judiciary fizzled By Tom Lutey, Montana Free Press May 20, 2025 A Republican effort to make sweeping changes to Montana courts has suffered another blow, this time with a veto by Gov. Greg Gianforte. Senate Bill 40, which would have required recorded and printed public records of judicial deliberations, was vetoed for being unconstitutional, Gianforte said in a letter to House and Senate leaders May 16.

2 weeks ago | montanafreepress.org | Tom Lutey

A Republican effort to make sweeping changes to Montana courts has suffered another blow, this time with a veto by Gov. Greg Gianforte. Senate Bill 40, which would have required recorded and printed public records of judicial deliberations, was vetoed for being unconstitutional, Gianforte said in a letter to House and Senate leaders May 16. “Throughout our nation’s history, internal communications between government officials have been considered privileged information.

3 weeks ago | montanafreepress.org | Tom Lutey

Several bills passed during the 2025 legislative session change state election laws governing elections, including how late Montanans can register to vote. Senate Bill 490, sponsored by Sen. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka, changes the deadline for registering to vote or changing voter information. Proponents said the bill would put an end to long lines of last-minute voters waiting, sometimes until after midnight on Election Day, to register and vote.