Montana’s Legislative Session Begins

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The 64th Montana legislative session begins Monday at the state Capitol in Helena with the swearing in of new lawmakers at noon.

Republicans again hold the majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives with some of the more conservative members of the party in leadership roles.

They will need to contend with Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock on most of the bills they pass during the 90-day session.

More than 2,100 bills have been requested or drafted already. The top priority is passing a state budget for the next two years.

Other top issues include Medicaid expansion to 70,000 low-income Montanans, funding for preschool programs and construction on roads, water and sewer among other projects across the state.

The Montana legislature meets every other year.

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