AGP Executive Report

Montana Elections: The Montana Supreme Court approved revised ballot language for I-194, “The Montana Plan,” a measure that would restrict political spending by “artificial persons” like corporations and nonprofits, with penalties tied to forfeiting business privileges. Federal Courts: Montana’s federal courthouses will close June 19 for Juneteenth, pushing hearings and court services to later dates. Border & Immigration: A new wave of reporting and watchdog findings keeps spotlighting detention conditions and waste, including alarms tied to Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss and other ICE facilities. Public Lands & Wildlife: Conservation groups are appealing bison grazing decisions on Montana public lands, arguing impacts to habitat and management. State Budget & Schools: Montana’s trust land permanent investment fund hit the $1 billion milestone, with earnings dedicated to K-12 funding. Local Governance: Missoula approved $945,000 in grants to help formerly homeless residents maintain housing through its Pathways to Housing Stability program. Animal Health: New World screwworm has been detected in Texas, triggering quarantine and tightened interstate animal movement rules. Energy/Tech & Land Use: Missoula-area residents are organizing against a proposed Bonner data center, citing water use and tax incentive concerns.

Medicaid Work Rules: The Trump administration released final federal rules requiring many Medicaid enrollees to document work or other qualifying activities, with most states facing a Jan. 1, 2027 rollout and major scrambling to update systems. DNI Pick: Trump announced Jay Clayton as his next director of national intelligence, setting up a June 17 Senate confirmation hearing. ICE Oversight Failures: A new GAO report says mismanagement at a Texas ICE detention camp led to detainee deaths, with “missing or destroyed” materials tied to one case and millions wasted on contractors. Bison Grazing Fight: American Prairie and conservation groups are appealing federal decisions ending bison grazing on Montana BLM parcels, arguing the agency’s interpretation is unlawful and politically driven. Nonpartisan Courts Ballot Drive: Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts submitted signatures for a constitutional amendment to keep judicial elections nonpartisan, aiming for a November vote. Montana Politics & Elections: A Montana ballot initiative effort also targets campaign finance transparency, while a separate push seeks to add nonpartisan judicial elections to the state constitution. Public Safety Hearings: Missoula County held a packed hearing on feral horses at Miller Creek, with residents pressing for humane management and clearer authority.

Inflation Watch: New May data shows Americans paying 4.2% more for food, energy, and other essentials than a year ago, with energy costs rising after U.S. military strikes on Iran and shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Foster Care & Finance: First Lady Melania Trump announced “Fostering the Future Accounts,” letting states open $1,000 investment accounts for eligible foster children, with Montana among the participating states. Immigration Oversight: A federal GAO report blasts Camp East Montana’s management, citing “millions of dollars of waste,” weak oversight, and safety and medical lapses at the Texas ICE facility. Montana Elections & Spending: The Montana Supreme Court certified ballot language for a “Transparent Election Initiative” aimed at limiting corporate election spending, keeping the fight over Citizens United-style rules alive. Medicare Advantage Accountability: Montana officials and seniors’ advocates are pushing for stronger state enforcement of Medicare Advantage rules, arguing CMS delays leave consumers exposed. Public Lands & Wildlife: American Prairie and conservation groups appealed BLM’s decision to end bison grazing leases on Montana parcels, saying the reversal is political and harms prairie restoration. Defense Training: CENTCOM will wrap its 30th Regional Cooperation Exercise at Fort Harrison, Montana, after two weeks of multinational readiness training.

Immigration Enforcement & Oversight: A new federal watchdog report says ICE’s Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss was rushed into operation, wasting $11.5 million on meals before detainees arrived and citing security and medical failures, including missing or destroyed records tied to deaths. Border Security Funding: Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is leading a 22-state coalition urging Congress to pass long-term funding for CBP and ICE, arguing shortfalls have already disrupted operations. Election Integrity Push: DHS directed ICE to pursue stricter penalties for noncitizens who illegally vote, tying the move to Trump’s election-integrity order. Montana Ballot & Courts: The Montana Supreme Court approved revised language for the Transparent Election Initiative after Knudsen flagged wording that could mislead voters; meanwhile, a judicial election ballot measure submitted signatures, while property tax measures reportedly won’t advance. Local Montana Politics: Valley County primary results show U.S. Senate contests moving to November, and Lake County’s HD 13 race is set after Finley Warden’s win. Energy & Land Use: Dawson County voters backed a wind-energy height limit, while Montana continues grappling with climate and rural infrastructure tradeoffs. Public Safety & Accountability: Separate reporting highlights safety questions around Aramark’s Teton Tour Company after two fatal snowmobile trips in four days.

Immigration Oversight: A new GAO watchdog report says ICE’s Camp East Montana in Texas suffered serious safety and management failures, including millions wasted before detainees arrived, medical neglect, and missing or destroyed evidence tied to a detainee death. Montana Politics & Governance: Montana’s Supreme Court certified a ballot measure on corporate election spending, a reminder that campaign finance fights are moving from courts to the ballot. Wildfire Policy Conflict: ProPublica reports Sen. Tim Sheehy pushed to loosen Forest Service airworthiness inspections for firefighting aircraft even as a Forest Service inspector flagged a crack in a Bridger Aerospace scooper—raising questions about oversight and conflicts. Public Lands & Wildlife: Conservation groups won a partial legal victory over Montana grizzly and bull trout habitat impacts tied to road access changes, though the judge said more arguments are needed on next steps. Energy & Cost of Living: GasBuddy price reports show scattered Montana lows for diesel and gasoline in late May, while broader national prices remain volatile amid Middle East shipping risks. National Security: The U.S. carried out strikes on Iran after a helicopter crash near the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran vowing retaliation and water infrastructure claims adding to regional stakes.

Public Lands Under Pressure: A new analysis says the 119th Congress has introduced 81 “antiparks” bills, with a small caucus driving most of them—ranging from weakening protections to pushing land sales and loopholes in conservation law. Montana Courts & Immigration Records: Gallatin County is fighting the Montana AG in a Montana Supreme Court dispute over access to court records tied to immigration enforcement, with Knudsen calling it a “political question.” Election Integrity in Montana: Montana has kicked off its post-election audit for the 2026 primary, with random race/precinct selections and county hand-count reviews starting June 16. Missoula Cold Case: Prosecutors filed deliberate homicide charges in the 1990 murders of two Riverside Health Care Center residents, using modern DNA testing. Detention Oversight Fallout: A GAO report says Camp East Montana wasted up to $11.5 million before detainees arrived and cites serious medical and security failures. Statewide Governance & Services: The SSA commissioner is set to testify before Congress amid scrutiny over staffing cuts and long waits, arguing service is improving.

Immigration Oversight: A new GAO report says the Trump-era Camp East Montana detention center at Fort Bliss in Texas was rushed into operation, failed required inspections, and suffered unsafe conditions—unsanitary housing, weak tuberculosis controls, inadequate medical care, and a lost loaded firearm—while also flagging missing or destroyed material tied to a detainee death. Montana Politics & Courts: Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell asked the Montana Supreme Court to keep her dispute with Attorney General Austin Knudsen moving, arguing the fight is about statutory interpretation over criminal-justice information requests. Border Funding Push: Montana AG Austin Knudsen joined a coalition urging Congress to pass the Secure America Act to provide long-term funding for CBP and ICE, warning against “political bargaining chips” that leave agencies under-resourced. Medicaid Enforcement: New York AG Letitia James and partners secured a $36.5 million CVS settlement over Medicaid insulin overbilling. Property Tax Ballot: Sen. Wylie Galt suspended his effort to cap local property tax increases at 2% per parcel, citing feedback and a push for a broader legislative solution. Federal Services: The SSA commissioner is set to testify before a House committee as lawmakers press on staffing cuts, long waits, and benefit-payment performance. Energy Prices: GasBuddy data shows Montana premium and midgrade prices easing slightly in the week ending May 30, with county-by-county lows reported across the state.

Montana Legal Fight: Gallatin County attorney Audrey Cromwell is asking the Montana Supreme Court to rein in Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s “supervisory control” takeover of her office, arguing the state law interpretation could force her to give incorrect legal advice and expose the county to penalties. Public Lands & Wildlife: Western Watersheds Project has appealed a Bureau of Land Management decision revoking American Prairie’s bison grazing permits in northeastern Montana, saying the agency flipped course using a new standard without defining it. State Government & Health Policy: Montana Auditor James Brown announced support for Congressman Troy Downing’s PARTNERS Act, aimed at giving states more enforcement power over Medicare Advantage requirements. Education & Tech: Montana school boards are starting to consider adopting generative AI guidelines, using Montana School Board Association language that stresses student privacy and cautions against feeding student data into free AI tools. Agriculture & Community: Missoula’s Farm Connect Montana launched the Western Montana Food and Farm Trail, linking 80+ farms, restaurants, and breweries along Highway 93. Wildfire Preparedness: Missoula County is updating its Community Wildfire Protection Plan, shifting from pure suppression toward living with recurring smoke and building safer homes. National Politics With Montana Stakes: Senators asked the DOT inspector general to investigate Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s corporate-donor-funded road trip video series, raising ethics and spending questions.

SNAP Restrictions: USDA lists 23 states, including Montana, rolling out limits on SNAP purchases of non-nutritious items like soda and candy, with staggered start dates through summer and fall. Food Insecurity in Montana: Livingston’s “21 Cows” initiative is mobilizing ranchers and meat processors to replace protein lost after federal commodity cuts, as pantry visits surge. Montana Senate Race: Democrat Alani Bankhead won her primary and will face Republican Kurt Alme and independent Seth Bodnar in the general election. Property Tax Fight: GOP Sen. Wylie Galt suspended a proposed 2% property tax cap ballot initiative just weeks before signature deadlines. Forest Service Shakeup: A whistleblower letter says Montana could see major staffing impacts from the Forest Service reorganization, far beyond official projections. Public Lands & Wildlife: Conservation groups appealed BLM’s eviction of 940 bison from Montana public lands, calling it politically driven. Wildfire Planning: Missoula County is updating its wildfire protection plan, shifting toward living with fire risk and emphasizing individual responsibility. Grizzlies & Federal Logging: A federal court challenge targets a Helena-area logging and burning project in grizzly connectivity habitat. Health Policy: A CNN roundup notes Montana’s medical aid in dying option exists via court ruling, with terminal-illness requirements. Energy & Prices: GasBuddy reports show volatile fuel costs in Montana counties, with several “lowest price” listings tied to limited station counts.

Montana Defense & Federal Presence: A specialized U.S. Air Force jet (Venus 71) landed in Missoula for a training mission, with no temporary airspace restrictions reported—raising questions about who was aboard and why the stop mattered. Public Safety & Military Readiness: German Bundeswehr personnel trained alongside the Montana Army National Guard through the Military Reserve Exchange Program, including weapons qualification and public affairs unit updates. Health Policy: A new push to enforce Medicaid work requirements threatens coverage for millions, with critics warning states could terminate benefits through paperwork-heavy verification. Courts & Rights: Federal judges are facing threats after rulings against the Trump administration, underscoring the political heat around the judiciary. Environment & Public Lands: Viewpoints and policy debate continue over Montana’s land management and access fights, including concerns tied to federal permitting and sovereignty. Education: Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent Matt Jensen was named regional Superintendent of the Year, now in the running for statewide recognition. Economy Watch: Gas prices stayed volatile, with multiple Montana counties reporting the week’s lowest midgrade and diesel deals.

Public Lands & Energy: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren unveiled a plan to end new oil and gas leasing on federal lands, promising a first-day moratorium on new drilling and a rollback of Trump-era rules. Montana Land Policy: A Montana opinion piece argues state land swaps are getting more political after authority shifted toward the Land Board, raising concerns about access and protections for public parcels. Wildlife Management: Yellowstone’s wolf count fell to 84 wolves in eight packs in 2025, with low pup survival and disease suspected; Wyoming meanwhile cut its wolf hunt by half after a distemper outbreak. Courts & Access: Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers filed suit over “corner crossing,” saying hundreds of thousands of acres rely on it for public access. Local Government: Kalispell City Council is considering Safe Haven Baby Boxes at fire stations after public lobbying. Military & Community: Montana’s Army National Guard 103rd Public Affairs Detachment welcomed new specialists, while a German officer trained with Montana Guard troops through an exchange program. Economy Watch: Montana’s motor vehicle license tax collections rose in 2024, according to Census data.

Montana Land Swaps: A new shift in Montana’s land-exchange process is making swaps “more political,” moving key decisions to the five-member Land Board and limiting DNRC’s ability to block deals. Federal Courts & Health Policy: A judge halted Trump SNAP restrictions that would have tied funding to conditions including “gender ideology” and immigration-related rules, while separate reporting shows Montana Medicaid billing patterns for lab and therapy services. Energy & Industry: The Trump administration is pushing nearly $700M into coal using a Korean War-era statute, including support that could open a long-blocked California export terminal—while Montana’s neighbors keep building lithium projects despite legal and inflation headwinds. Immigration Enforcement: An AP investigation says children were re-separated despite a landmark settlement, and separate reporting highlights ongoing border-wall spending fast-tracked through politically connected firms. Montana Politics: Democrats’ Senate primary in Montana produced an upset, setting up a general election matchup with GOP Kurt Alme. Local Governance: Fallon County released its June 8-12 commission agenda, including budgets, road standards, justice court finances, and election canvassing. Community & Culture: A new LDS temple broke ground in Missoula, and Helena’s sister-school ties with Japan’s Kumamoto region continue to expand.

Border Policy & Courts: An AP investigation says the Trump administration re-separated dozens of children from families despite a landmark settlement meant to reunify them, reviving the legal fight over family separation. Immigration Detention Oversight: A federal judge halted Trump SNAP funding conditions tied to “gender ideology” and other restrictions, while separate reporting highlights mounting scrutiny of ICE detention conditions, including suicide concerns. Montana Federal Power: The U.S. Senate confirmed Montana’s newest federal judge, Kathleen S. Lane, a party-line vote that Democrats say raises qualification questions. Montana Elections: Alani Bankhead surged to win the Democratic Senate primary and will face GOP nominee Kurt Alme in November. State Governance & Services: Montana officials warned wildfire risk could run above normal, and Helena High formalized a sister-school partnership with Japan’s Kumamoto. Civil Rights & Access: A Montana-focused op-ed argues Section 504 protections are a “promise” the state can’t abandon. Energy & Environment: The Trump administration is pushing nearly $700M into coal, including potential new export capacity tied to Montana.

Forest Policy & Wildfire Risk: Montana’s Shared Stewardship deal with the U.S. Forest Service just expanded again, adding a third landscape in the Lolo National Forest and pushing the partnership to nearly one million acres under shared management. Judicial Appointments: The U.S. Senate confirmed Montana’s newest federal judge, Katie Lane, a party-line vote that also reignited debate over her qualifications. Climate Litigation: A federal appeals court refused to revive a youth climate lawsuit targeting Trump energy orders, keeping Montana’s recent climate-court fight on the defensive. Public Lands Access: The Trump administration is moving to open millions of acres of national forest land to off-road vehicles, a shift that could reshape recreation rules in Montana and neighboring states. Energy & Jobs: Trump announced nearly $700 million in support for coal plants and exports, using Cold War-era authority—an economic pitch that will land in Montana’s broader energy policy debates. Local Governance: Laurel’s city council is set to appoint a new mayor after a contentious resignation, with residents arguing over who should qualify and how the process should work. Utilities & Data Centers: Former legislator Jeff Pattison won a GOP primary for Montana’s Public Service Commission seat, centering his campaign on electricity costs and concerns about data center water use. Immigration Enforcement: A PBS News Hour segment highlighted how a conservative Montana town pushed back after an ICE arrest, underscoring how immigration enforcement can spark local political action. Legal Ethics: Florida’s high court tightened rules on AI in filings, requiring lawyers to verify cited legal authorities—an issue Montana courts and attorneys are likely to watch closely.

Public Lands & Recreation: A draft Forest Service memo would open millions of acres of national forest land to off-road vehicles, with year-round access being identified across forests—an especially big change for areas where ATVs are currently restricted, including about 5 million acres tied to wilderness recommendations. Montana Politics: Montana’s primary election fallout is already shaping the next legislative fight after GOP primaries ousted multiple incumbents, adding pressure on party leadership heading into November. Health Policy: Nebraska is an early test case for stricter Medicaid work requirements, with a nonprofit reporting a sharp drop in new enrollments after the new rules took effect—raising concerns about coverage losses in other states. Border & Immigration: The Trump administration has sharply accelerated border wall spending, with billions in contracts going largely to two politically connected firms and raising transparency questions. Courts & Civil Rights: Colorado ordered new trials for two paramedics convicted in the death of Elijah McClain, spotlighting the use of ketamine in EMS responses. Economy & Agriculture: Montana farm bankruptcies spiked in 2025, with economists pointing to tariffs, market shifts, and economic strain as the pressure builds for 2026. Local Government: Missoula finalized the sale of the Riverfront Triangle for a $4 million hotel and conference center, with proceeds routed to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Public Health (National): U.S. measles cases surpassed 2,000 for the second straight year, with most cases among people unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status.

Montana GOP intraparty fallout: Tuesday’s legislative primaries ended with eight Republican incumbents losing renomination, the biggest such shakeup in at least 20 years, as Conservatives4MT and the Montana Freedom Caucus fought for control and outside spending flooded key races—though Rep. Llew Jones (Solutions Caucus) still pulled a major Senate win over Rep. Zack Wirth. Public lands and wildlife policy: A renewed push to allow “cyanide bombs” on public lands is back in the spotlight after BLM lifted a total ban, setting up another fight over predator-control methods and federal land management. Energy and jobs politics: President Trump announced nearly $700 million in support for coal plants and exports using Cold War-era national defense authority—an effort that could affect regional power decisions and draws scrutiny over environmental tradeoffs. Immigration detention lawsuit: Rights groups sued ICE over alleged inhumane conditions at Camp East Montana in Texas, including medical neglect, solitary confinement, and a measles outbreak. Tribal child welfare: Montana advocates and tribal leaders met in Polson for the ICWA Legal Summit, focusing on strengthening Native families and protecting tribal youth. AI in courts: Florida’s Supreme Court tightened rules requiring attorneys to verify legal authorities cited in filings after AI “hallucinations,” a warning that legal tech can’t replace basic checks.