Montana lawmakers have narrowly voted down a proposal to create a panel that would decide which patients are eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursement for abortion-related services. A slate of other bills to restrict access to abortion are awaiting consideration by the governor.

Montana lawmakers Tuesday voted down a proposal that would regulate health care for transgender youth in the state. Another bill aimed at transgender youth is still alive.

The Montana House of Representatives sent a bill to Gov. Greg Gianforte’s desk Wednesday that would allow state-inspected Montana meat to be sold across state lines.

A growing dispute between Montana’s legislative and judicial branches came to a head Monday during a pair of special committee hearings . Republican lawmakers have alleged bias by state Supreme Court justices over pending legislation — and in an unexpected move, justices addressed those concerns directly.

HELENA — Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Legislature are locked in a legal battle over a new law giving the governor sweeping powers to appoint judges.

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed several bills into law this week, including policies to end same-day voting registration and change voter ID requirements; limit local public health powers; expand telehealth access; give businesses tax breaks for vocational training; allow insurance companies to consider gender when setting rates; address the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people; and update state laws after federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

As of mid-day Friday, 1,297 bills have been introduced and at least 197 have been signed into law. This week we’re watching a mounting dispute over separation of powers between the Legislature and the Montana Supreme Court. We’re also watching debate on a bill that would incentivize the state’s largest utility to buy more of the Colstrip coal-fired power plant.

COVID leads to the cancellation of floor sessions at the Legislature as the Republican leaders are in a subpoena standoff with the state Supreme Court. All this as a bill to ban abortion dies in the Senate, the governor tries to prohibit "vaccine passports" and a Montanan may become the next head of the Bureau of Land Management. Listen now on Capitol Talk with Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin and Holly Michels.

The Montana Supreme Court has blocked several subpoenas filed by legislative Republicans ordering the justices to produce internal communications about pending legislation by Monday. The Supreme Court Friday also blocked a subpoena that would have required Court Administrator Beth McLaughlin to appear Monday before a special legislative committee investigating judicial conduct, and to turn over her state computer.

HELENA - Senators on a special committee will attempt to roll three bills into one to build Montana’s recreational marijuana program.