This week Zuri & John give us the update on the anti-trans bills, medicaid bills, and some of the wins we saw this week! We were also introduced to a few bills that attack MEPA (Montana Environmental Protection Agency). An agency and upholds the our constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment!

How to leave public comment:

As with most things related to the State of Montana there are always changes. If you want to submit a public comment or virtually testify this session it works a bit different. Here are the steps you need to take!

• Make an account by going here
• You’ll see several options to select, throughout this session we will be directing you to the Standing Committee section to either testify remotely and/or submit testimony (public comment).
• We will direct you to specific bills or committees to address either as an opponent or proponent. We will do our best to make it clear what we are supporting and what we strongly oppose.  

Stay engaged this session and make your thoughts known to your legislators! Looking for some pointers on giving public comment? We’ve got you covered with a handy one pager on best practices. 

EVENTS:

Public Lands Rally  Wednesday, Feb. 19  •  Noon — 1 p.m.  at the Capitol Rotunda, Helena

Forward Montana legislative team will be hosting a series of zoom events. We’ll walk you through what’s happening at the Legislature around LGBTQ+ Rights, Reproductive Rights and Housing! 

• LGBTQ+ Rights Session: 2/18/2025 with Morgan, our LGBTQ+ and Voter Engagement Organizer

• Reproductive Rights Session: 2/20/2025 with Taryn, our Reproductive Rights and Voter Engagement Organizer

Housing issues session: 2/27/2025 with Sage, our Housing and Voter Engagement Organizer

February Housing Happy Hour 

• Bring your current project while you gather in an environment of support, create community, and build collective power through arts n’ crafts! A hodgepodge of embroidery, knit/crochet, and collage supplies will be available.

• February 24, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM 

• The Center, 500 N Higgins Ave Ste 105, Missoula, MT 59802

  
  

Sign up to receive What the Helena right to your inbox every week ⁠here⁠!

Stay up to date with all things Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana! 

Hosted by Zuri Moreno & John Bazant 

Edited by Ashley Lobao

Music by Cowboy Calamity

This week ended with some drama!! like, "tmr we're gonna duel" type drama. In this episode we chat about some important legislative bills, a villain who is scared & petty, and a hero who stood up for the health of montanans.

Remember, folks these senators and representatives, represent YOU. and so we REALLY REALLY want you to reach out to them so that they don't forget that.

And hey, maybe this weekend you do something that brings you joy!

Here is that link for the online portal where you can message you legislator!

Capitol Events: 

• On Thursday, February 13, join us and our partners at the I <3 Montana Constitution Rally. Gohere to learn more and RSVP. 

• On Friday February 14 through Saturday February 15, join our partner Catalyst MT at their annual Policy Leadership Institute. The 2-day conference will cover a wide-range of policy issues, and include skill building sessions. Learn more and sign uphere!

FMT Events: 

Forward Montana legislative team will be hosting aseries of zoom events. We’ll walk you through what’s happening at the Legislature around LGBTQ+ Rights, Reproductive Rights and Housing! 

• LGBTQ+ Rights Session: 2/18/2025 with Morgan, our LGBTQ+ and Voter Engagement Organizer

• Reproductive Rights Session:2/20/2025 with Taryn, our Reproductive Rights and Voter Engagement Organizer

• Housing issues session: 2/27/2025 with Sage, our Housing and Voter Engagement Organizer

Local events: 

• Missoula Community Soup Night 

• Come decompress, be in community, and talk shit about your legislators all while eating some mouth watering soup. BYOB (bring your own bowl) 

• Feb 9th, 7-9pm 

422 W Alder St, Missoula, MT 59802  

• Commissioners Chat: Bozeman Growth 

• Come and join the Forward Montana team in chatting with two of our city commissioners! We will have two commissioners in the room who want to hear more from our young community members who are renters! 

• February 10, 2025 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM 

• Bozeman Office, 125 W Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT 59715 

• MSU FMT Club Meeting 

• Come join the Forward Montana club for community, crafts and civic engagement!

• February 10, 2025 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 

• Wilson Hall, Wilson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59715 

Stay engaged this session and make your thoughts known to your legislators! Looking for some pointers on giving public comment? We've got you covered with a handy one pager on best practices. 

Sign up to receive What the Helena right to your inbox every week ⁠here⁠!

Stay up to date with all things Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana! 

Hosted by Zuri Moreno & John Bazant 

Edited by Ashley Lobao

Music by Cowboy Calamity

I think someone forgot to tell us that they were recording Mean Girls 3 in Helena this week?

We were SO disappointed in the anti-trans bills that reared their ugly faces this week. These bills are just more of the same discriminatory b.s. we've seen in the past. On the brighter side of things, we saw the housing fairness tax credit bill (HB 154) pass through committee and is headed to the House Appropriations for a hearing next week!

Want to listen to our hero of the week showing us what it means to be bold: CLICK HERE.

EVENTS:

Local events: 

As with most things related to the State of Montana there are always changes. If you want to submit a public comment or virtually testify this session it works a bit different. Make an account by going here!

Sign up to receive What the Helena right to your inbox every week ⁠here⁠!

Stay up to date with all things Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana! 

Hosted by Zuri Moreno & John Bazant 

Edited by Ashley Lobao

Music by Cowboy Calamity

Week three down! The capitol is buzzing with hectic energy. From medicaid bills, pro-housing billing, judicial attacks, and another anti-trans bill. Our hosts give you all the details - brace yourself - this one might get spicy.

HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT

As with most things related to the State of Montana there are always changes. If you want to submit a public comment or virtually testify this session it works a bit different. Here are the steps you need to take!

Make an account by going here

You’ll see several options to select, throughout this session we will be directing you to the Standing Committee section to either testify remotely  and/or submit testimony (public comment).

We will direct you to specific bills or committees to address either as an opponent or proponent. We will do our best to make it clear what we are supporting and what we strongly oppose.  

Stay engaged this session and make your thoughts known to your legislators! Looking for some pointers on giving public comment? We've got you covered with a handy one pager on best practices. 

Want a deep dive in tax policy? Go to our partner’s at Montana Budget and Policy Center.

EVENTS: 

Bozeman Stich and Bitch: 2025 Visioning Edition Friday, January 31st from 6-7:30PM at the Bozeman Office. Join Forward Montana at our first Stitch and Bitch of the year! Bring your own craft to work on or use provided collage supplies to create a 2025 vision board. Join us to craft, discuss the legislative session and build community, and eat FREE snacks! 

 MSU FMT Club Meeting Monday, January 27th from 6-7:30 PM Wilson Hall. Looking to get involved on campus? Join the MSU Forward Montana Club for our first meeting of the semester! Come hang out, make some fun crafts, write comments to your legislators and get to know more about Forward Montana! 

Sign up to receive What the Helena right to your inbox every week ⁠here⁠!

Stay up to date with all things Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana! 

Hosted by Zuri Moreno & John Bazant 

Edited by Ashley Lobao

Music by Cowboy Calamity

Wow week two showed up and brought a large crowd rallying for medicaid, a disappointing state of the state address, and a hero fighting for those lost to families across montana. 

Our hosts update us on the bills we’ve been keeping an eye on and updates on other happenings in Helena. 

For more information on how to get involved with medicaid advocacy head to www.healthymontana.org/ 

Events:

Monday, January 20th, join our Billings team at the Black Heritage Foundation of Billings MLK day event. All Nation Christian church @ 5pm  - program at 6pm.

Wednesday, January 22 6pm-8:30pm. Montana Abortion Access Program "Art and Advocacy: Abortion Access in Focus." The event will be at Free Cycles (732 S 1st St. W, Missoula, MT 59801) and will feature a pop-up gallery and artist talk, as well as a panel discussion on the impact of the Dobbs decision with speakers from MAAP, Blue Mountain Clinic, Planned Parenthood, and Montanans for Choice.  The event is free to attend, though donations are welcome! The program will begin at 6:30 pm, doors open at 6 PM. 

Thursday, January 5:30-7pm Housing Happy Hour at Shine in Bozeman. Join Bozeman Welcoming Neighbors for a drink and chats about Bozeman’s Pro-Housing Initiatives. 

Friday, January 24th from 5:30-7:30pm, join us in Whitefish at our Introduction to Crochet and Fiber Arts Workshop, located at the Whitefish Community Center. Come get yarn, learn to crochet, and tell us all your session-related questions. Refreshments will be provided - please RSVP (link here) so we know how many hooks to bring! 

Climate Advocacy Day - Friday Jan 24th 11am - 2pm. Join the Forward MT legislative team this year’s Climate Advocacy Day in the Capitol Rotunda. More info here about the Climate Advocacy Day. 

Sign up to receive What the Helena right to your inbox every week ⁠here⁠!

Stay up to date with all things Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana! 

Hosted by Zuri Moreno & John Bazant 

Edited by Ashley Lobao

Music by Cowboy Calamity

Take a deep breath cause the first week of the 2025 Legislative Session is over! Anyone else feel like each Session gets a little bit more chaotic?

In this episode meet our two new hosts Zuri & John, as they take us through the happenings of the week from senate drama to a hopeful affordable housing bill! 

Events:

Wednesday, January 15th join Montana’s from across the state at Capitol Flag Plaza (in front of the Capitol building) for the Montana Medicaid Rally. RSVP here! 

Thursday January 16th at 12pm, join us at a virtual action to Call Your Lawmaker. This youth-led event will provide you with the tools and practice on how to contact your legislator - in particular, to invite them to the Climate Day of Action, happening on Friday, January 24th, in the Capitol Rotunda. RSVP here for the virtual call. More info here about the Climate Advocacy Day.

Sign up to receive What the Helena right to your inbox every week here!

Stay up to date with all things Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana! 

Hosted by Zuri Moreno & John Bazant 

Edited by Ashley Lobao

Music by Cowboy Calamity

Well here we are - at the end of 2024.

Kiersten & Lyla convene to chat about how our year went at Forward Montana. We also hear from Zuri, our new Legislative Director, about what we can expect next year during the 2025 session.

Be sure to tune back in next year where we will be providing weekly updates - here & on our website!

Looking for more information about how the legislative session works? Head here!

You can follow Forward Montana on instagram @forward_montana and on Tiktok @forwardmontana.

This episode was hosted by Lyla & Kiersten and edited by Ashley.

In this episode two of our staff members: Ashley & Sage talk about Montana's Housing Crisis. We talk about Zoning, Homelessness and the overall cost of housing in Montana.

Here are some resources pertaining to housing in Montana:

This episode we chat with two of our staff members Pari & Cassidy about taking a break and some other coping & self care methods! We also chat about our communities and how we can continue to care for those as well.

You can follow Forward Montana on Instagram @forward_montana and on TikTok @forwardmontana. Visit us online at forwardmontana.org.

This episode was hosted by Pari & Cassidy and edited by Ashley.

Additional Resources:

LGBTQ+ Text Line- text “HOME” to 741-741.

Montana 211- connects you with the community resources, services www.montana211.org

Loveland Foundation therapy fund for black women and girls

In this episode, we’re joined by Erin Miller from Montanans for Election Reform to discuss Montana’s CI-126 and CI-127 ballot initiatives. Together, we explore what these proposals could mean for election integrity, access to voting, and the future of democracy in our state.

You can follow Forward Montana on instagram @forward_montana and on TikTok @forwardmontana. Visit us online at forwardmontana.org.

For more informaiton about Montanans for Election Reform visit yeson126mt.com.

This episode was hosted by Sophie and edited by Ashley.

Make sure you return your ballot early or head to the polls on NOV 5.