The Legislature, which is held by a Republican majority, has rapidly mobilized in the last week to investigate the judiciary for polling judges on pending legislation regarding the courts, while Democrats have denounced the GOP s actions as attempts to undermine the courts.
As multiple controversial bills have moved through this legislative session with GOP support, opponents have vowed to take to the courts to challenge what becomes law. That includes a broad range of bills â from revising the judicial process to allowing openly carried firearms on college campuses and restricting access to health care for transgender youth and limiting abortions.
HELENA, Mont. (Feb. 26, 2021) – On Tuesday, the Montana Senate unanimously passed a bill that would put a state constitutional amendment on the ballot to elevate the privacy of a person’s electronic communications and data to the same level as “persons, houses, papers and possessions.”
Sen. Kenneth Bogner (R-Miles City) introduced Senate Bill 203 (SB203) on Feb. 9. If approved, the resolution would allow voters to consider an amendment to Article II, section 11 of the Montana State Constitution that would require the government to obtain a search warrant in order to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communication. The amendment would add the following highlighted words to Article II Sec. 11 of the state constitution.
After years of negotiation, water rights issues on the Flathead Reservation flowed to the top level as the Montana Water Rights Protection Act passed with bipartisan effort in the United States Senate on Monday, Dec. 21.
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Chairwoman Shelly R. Fyant called the event historic: “This is one of the most significant days in the history of our people and one that will have a profound and positive impact on the future of the Flathead Reservation for the next century,” she said.
The bill now moves to the President’s desk for signature. President Donald Trump expressed support for the bipartisan bill back in June. United States Senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester together introduced the bill in December of 2019.