A trained contact tracer has signed a contract to work the 2021 Montana legislative session to investigate COVID-19 cases in the state Capitol.
Two lawmakers have already tested positive for the novel coronavirus within the first six days of the session, although neither were said to have contracted the virus there, and Gov. Greg Gianforte had self-quarantined after a close contact since his swearing in ceremony on on Jan. 4.
Gianforte returned to the Capitol on Wednesday after multiple tests returned negative results.
One of the lawmakers, Rep. Fiona Nave, R-Columbus, had been participating remotely since the start of the session and Rep. David Bedley, R-Hamilton, participated in the session s early days while wearing a mask and has worked remotely since his positive test.
What Public Access To The Montana Legislature Looks Like In 2021
The way Montanans can participate in their state legislature has changed amid the coronavirus pandemic. People have more virtual access, and in-person hearings in the Capitol look different than ever before.
During a recent state budget committee meeting, House Appropriations chair Rep. Llew Jones began taking the next round of public comment.
“That ends our physical proponents. We’re now going to go to Zoom for Zoom opponents.”
The 2021 legislative session amid the COVID-19 pandemic is the first time the public can give testimony in bill hearings via video. That means Montanans can share their thoughts about a policy without driving hours on winter roads to the state Capitol in Helena. But navigating that change isn’t always easy.
A small group of lawmakers Friday adopted measures that "highly recommend" and "highly encourage" things like mask use and temperature checks in the Montana Capitol, but stopped short of requiring