Tuesday - June 16, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Montana Newsletter for Tuesday June 09, 2026 ( 17 items )  

Conservation Groups Challenge Trump Administration's Move to Banish Bison From Public Lands
EUGENE, Oregon, June 9 -- The Western Environmental Law Center issued the following news release on June 8, 2026: * * * Conservation groups challenge Trump administration's move to banish bison from public lands Western Watersheds Project, represented by the Western Environmental Law Center, today appealed a decision by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to revoke American Prairie's authority to graze bison on public lands in northeastern Montana--a move that conflicts with plain statutory l  more

Department of the Interior Announces $461 Million for Parks and Outdoor Recreation Across America
WASHINGTON, June 9 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service issued the following news release on June 8, 2026: * * * Department of the Interior announces $461 million for parks and outdoor recreation across America Investments will leverage more than $900 million for parks, trails and outdoor recreation projects nationwide. - The Department of the Interior today announced the distribution of more than $327 million in formula grants and $134 million in competitive grants   more

EPA finalizes plan for Billings PCE Superfund site in Montana
WASHINGTON, June 8 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * EPA finalizes plan for Billings PCE Superfund site in Montana * Cleanup plan will address indoor air contamination and mitigate health risks BILLINGS, Mont. - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), finalized the cleanup plan to address indoor air contamination at the Billings PCE Superfund site, marking a   more

History Is Made: Indiana Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, June 9 -- The American Counseling Association issued the following news release: * * * History Is Made: Indiana Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines As part of the historic interstate Counseling Compact agreement, Indiana is the latest state that can now start granting privileges to licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines. Currently, other states that can grant these privileges include Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio, Louisiana and Georgia, w  more

IRS: More Than Half the U.S. States Signed Up to Participate in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program Enacted Under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill
WASHINGTON, June 9 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service issued the following news: * * * More than half the U.S. States signed up to participate in the federal scholarship tax credit program enacted under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill The Internal Revenue Service announced that 27 states have elected to participate in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) program, which enables eligible taxpayers to claim a federal tax credit for qualified contributions to Schola  more

Minneapolis Fed Welcomes 2026-2027 Class of Institute Visiting Scholars
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, June 3 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis issued the following news: * * * Minneapolis Fed welcomes 2026-2027 class of Institute visiting scholars This is the 10th cohort of researchers hosted by the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute - The Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute announced the visiting scholars selected to conduct research while in residence at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis for 2026-2027. Institute visiting scholars will res  more

Mont. DEQ Publishes Final Decision and Environmental Assessment for Columbia Gold Project
HELENA, Montana, June 9 -- The Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued the following news release: * * * DEQ publishes final decision and Environmental Assessment for Columbia Gold Project The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has approved an Exploration License Amendment from Sentinel Metals and issued a final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Columbia Gold Project, near Lincoln, Montana in Lewis and Clark County. DEQ accepted public comment from March 20, 202  more

Montana Auditor James Brown Announces His Support for Congressman Downing's PARTNERS Act Legislation
HELENA, Montana, June 9 -- Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Matt Rosendale issued the following news release: * * * Montana Auditor James Brown Announces His Support for Congressman Downing's PARTNERS Act Legislation Montana Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown today announced his strong support for federal legislation introduced by Congressman Troy Downing to improve Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, which allows private insurers t  more

Montana State University Extension explains state tax savings for 2026 medical care savings accounts
BOZEMAN, Montana, June 8 -- Montana State University issued the following news: * * * Montana State University Extension explains state tax savings for 2026 medical care savings accounts * BOZEMAN -Montana residents can reduce their 2026 state income taxes while preparing for current and future healthcare costs by taking advantage of a Montana medical care savings account. Montanans can open a medical care savings account at a bank or credit union or make deposits into existing MSAs before  more

Seed grants awarded to Montana State, community projects across Montana
BOZEMAN, Montana, June 8 -- Montana State University issued the following news: * * * Seed grants awarded to Montana State, community projects across Montana * BOZEMAN -Five Montana State University projects with statewide impacts will receive seed grant funding this year from MSU's Outreach and Engagement Council. The seed grants will help kick-start collaborative projects between MSU and Montana organizations to promote community engagement and address Montana residents' needs. Each proj  more

Southern Oregon University: JPR Reporters Honored With Journalism Awards
ASHLAND, Oregon, June 9 -- Southern Oregon University issued the following news: * * * JPR reporters honored with journalism awards Jefferson Public Radio reporters have been recognized for their journalism with recent honors from both the Edward R. Murrow Awards and the Society of Professional Journalists' Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards. JPR reporter Jane Vaughan won a regional Murrow Award for investigative reporting in the small-market radio division, competing against public a  more

TRANSCRIPT: Congresswoman Escobar Speaks on Republican Reconciliation 2.0 Bill, Discusses Republican Priorities, Camp East Montana, ICE & CBP Funding
WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * TRANSCRIPT: Congresswoman Escobar Speaks on Republican Reconciliation 2.0 Bill, Discusses Republican Priorities, Camp East Montana, ICE & CBP Funding * Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) provided testimony during the House Rules Committee hearing on S.2, the FY2026 Budget Resolution (also known as Reconciliation 2.0). This legislation passed in the Senate last week and is to be considere  more

Two NAU environmental science and policy master's students receive national conservation scholarships
FLAGSTAFF, Arizona, June 8 -- Northern Arizona University posted the following news: * * * Two NAU environmental science and policy master's students receive national conservation scholarships * Northern Arizona University's School of Earth and Sustainability and the Wyss Foundation have named environmental science and policy graduate students Taylor Hartness and Tia Hatton as 2026-2027 Wyss Conservation Scholars. The prestigious program supports innovative graduate-level education to advanc  more

U.S. Department of Education Announces Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge Semifinalists
WASHINGTON, June 8 -- The U.S. Department of Education issued the following news release: * * * U.S. Department of Education Announces Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge Semifinalists * Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced the 10 states selected as semifinalists for the Connecting Talent to Opportunity (link is external) (CTO) Challenge, a national call to action designed to strengthen the connections between learners and earners by accelerating the deve  more

W.Va. A.G. McCuskey Leads 20-State Coalition Defending Religious Students' Right to State Scholarship Funds
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, June 9 -- West Virginia Attorney General John B. McCuskey issued the following news release on June 8, 2026: * * * Attorney General McCuskey leads 20-state coalition defending religious students' right to state scholarship funds West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is leading a 20-state coalition in support of students pursuing degrees that Virginia has deemed too religious to qualify for the state's scholarship programs. The coalition's amicus brief in Johnso  more

Weigand Named SVP and General Auditor at Minneapolis Fed
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, June 2 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis issued the following news: * * * Weigand named SVP and general auditor at Minneapolis Fed Kreg Weigand has been named general auditor and a senior vice president by the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. In this role, he will lead the Bank's internal audit department, which is charged with evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of the organization's risk management, internal controls, and   more

Zinke-Led Military Sales Bill Passes House, Bolstering U.S. Manufacturing and Global Alliances
WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * Zinke-Led Military Sales Bill Passes House, Bolstering U.S. Manufacturing and Global Alliances * Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Ryan Zinke's Allied Defense Sales Act, legislation aimed at strengthening American manufacturing by making it easier for allied nations to jointly purchase U.S.-made defense equipment while deepening strategic partnerships abroad  more