A bill moving through the Montana Legislature would allow property owners to claim compensation from the state if they incur losses due to state regulations. Supporters say businesses deserve the reimbursement, while opponents say it’ll leave a massive hole in the state’s budget.

The Montana Capitol steps were submerged under a sea of rainbow colors Monday as a group rallied in protest of bills moving through the Legislature that would impact LGBTQ residents. "We want them to know we’re here, we’re queer and we’re not going anywhere," Shawn Reagor, an organizer with the Montana Human Rights Network, told a crowd outside the state Capitol Monday afternoon.

As of mid-day Friday, 1,148 bills had been introduced and Gov. Greg Gianforte 54 had been signed into law. This week we’re starting to see the state budget take shape; recreational marijuana regulations are coming soon; and Democrats try again with tax changes as Republican plans move forward.

Republican lawmakers are considering doubling a tax cut Gov. Greg Gianforte has proposed for the top marginal income bracket.

Montana Republican leaders think the COVID relief signed into law this week is a mistake. The Legislature now has to figure out how to spend the COVID windfall. Montana's attorney general joins a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. It looks like Gov. Gianforte will sign a "religious freedom" bill if it reaches his desk. And Sen. Daines says the Interior Secretary nominee will harm Montana's "way of life" if she's confirmed. Listen now on Capitol Talk with Sally Mauk, Holly

Montana’s congressional delegation split directly along party lines over passage of the $1.9-trillion COVID relief bill.

The Montana House of Representatives advanced a bill Wednesday that outlines how patients could pay for medical care directly without health insurance.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over changes to immigration policy.

Montana's had a 4% sales tax on hotel rooms and rental cars since the late '80s but the way people rent rooms and cars has changed a lot since then. A bill moving through the 2021 Montana Legislature aims to bring that tax into the online era.

After a short break last week, Montana's lawmakers are back at the state Capitol. The 67th Legislative Session is now more than halfway to its 90-day deadline and details of the state budget and recreational marijuana regulations still need to be hammered out.