Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Articles written by Clayton Murphy


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 4 of 4

  • Supporters of Proposed Workforce Housing Tax Credit Tell Legislative Panel It Would Increase Affordability

    CLAYTON MURPHY, UM Legislative News Service|Jan 15, 2025

    Proponents lined the walls of the House Taxation Committee room Friday in support of establishing a $1.5 million Montana workforce housing tax credit program. House Bill 21 is a state-specific version of an existing federal program. The bill would give tax credits for affordable housing projects, which proponents said would help increase much-needed supply. Don Sterhan is the president of CR Builders in Billings and a member of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s Housing Task Force. He supports HB 21 and gave examples of where the federal credit program h...

  • Lawmakers Hear Case for Dollar-Based Local Levies

    CLAYTON MURPHY, UM Legislative News Service|Jan 15, 2025

    Lawmakers are considering a bill that would make local agencies ask voters for a specific dollar amount of property tax increases on ballot levies rather than rely on mills — a property tax-based increase that can help account for inflation and changes in property values. Local levies are often used for public services like libraries or fire stations. The bill would still allow mills for public schools. Supporters of House Bill 20 told lawmakers in the House Taxation Committee Tuesday, Jan. 7 that the change would stabilize local property t...

  • Lawmakers Hear Testimony on Role of AI in Some Child Sex Abuse Cases

    CLAYTON MURPHY, UM Legislative News Service|Jan 15, 2025

    Montana Lawmakers heard an hour of what one representative called “concerning and astounding” testimony Thursday, Jan. 9 on a bill aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse in the age of artificial intelligence. House Bill 82 would update Montana law to account for the use of AI in altering photos of minors and using computer-generated images in “sextortion” cases that seek to blackmail children. “This bill is about protecting our children in an environment where predators have evolved their tactics,” said Rep. Kathy Love, R-Hamilton,...

  • Lawmakers Highlight Affordability, Taxes as Priorities as Legislature Convenes

    CLAYTON MURPHY, UM Legislative News Service|Jan 15, 2025

    The 69th Montana Legislature opened Monday, Jan. 6 in Helena with both Republicans and Democrats highlighting affordability as one of the issues that will dominate the 90-day session. Republicans have a 32-18 majority in the Senate and a 58-42 majority in the House this session, but after redistricting, they no longer hold the supermajority they held in 2023. At the first Senate session Monday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, said Montanans just need to look at their checkbooks to see what Republicans have done for...