Anti-abortion activists marched on the Montana State Capitol Friday afternoon. They joined crowds all across the country in the March For Life , protesting the Roe vs Wade decision, the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case establishing women's legal right to an abortion. A crowd of around 100 stretched out on the state Capitol steps, praying for the end of abortion in the United States.

HELENA — Taxes are shaping up to be one of the big debates of the 2019 Montana Legislature. The budget estimates from the governor’s office and the Legislative Fiscal Division are roughly the same -- about $10 billion over two years to fund a variety of state agencies and programs. The budget includes everything from education to the state’s share of Medicaid expansion.

Montana State University and University of Montana students are on average tens of thousands of dollars in debt after four years in school. With that in mind, lawmakers are thinking about making financial education a bigger part of the university's responsibility. But the idea could violate the state constitution.

Montana’s senior U.S. senator wants to ensure the ongoing partial government shutdown doesn’t hamper farmers’ ability to grow hemp. Specifically, Democrat Jon Tester wants to make sure hemp growers have access to federal Bureau of Reclamation water.

Montana lawmakers and the state insurance commissioner are targeting a generally hidden part of the healthcare system, with new regulations aimed at bringing down prescription drug costs. Companies in the drug supply chain, and the state’s biggest health insurance company, are fighting back.

HELENA — A slew of bills introduced in the Montana Legislature would revise the statute of limitations for sex crimes.

A new tax on fireworks is up for debate in the Montana Legislature. The money would help pay workers compensation for volunteer firefighters injured on the job. But the fireworks industry is protesting against the policy that they say is unfair and will cripple their businesses. There are roughly 8,000 volunteer firefighters in Montana and a quarter don’t get health coverage or wage protection if they’re injured on the job, according to a legislative study on the topic last year.

Montana continues to rank among the bottom states in the nation in providing services for people with disabilities , according to one new report. The findings were given to lawmakers Monday as they consider a slate of bills aimed at improving the situation.

HELENA— The House Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that would allow any law enforcement officer in the state to file a missing child report as soon as a child is reported missing. Bryan Lockerby, the administrator of criminal investigation for the Department of Justice, spoke in favor of the bill during the initial hearing on Monday. He said officers commonly get stuck in details of a case, like jurisdiction or whether or not a case is considered civil or criminal. Lockerby also said

The Montana Legislature is now back in session. Sally Mauk, Rob Saldin and Holly Michels review week 1 and look at compromises that make it more difficult to kill bills in committee, the outlook for cross-party alliances, and a controversial proposal that would have Montana help fund a wall along the Mexican border.