Montana Majority Report

Montana began this session with a $2.5 billion surplus—but is now projected to end with a $1 billion deficit. What happened?In this episode, Senate President Matt Regier and Senate Finance and Claims Chair Carl Glimm break down House Bill 2, the state’s main budget bill. They explain how spending increased dramatically after nine Republican legislators joined Democrats to pass key funding measures, effectively giving Democrats the majority needed to push through higher spending.Now, with Montana’s Constitution requiring a balanced budget, the conservative majority is calling on Governor Gianforte to use his line-item veto power to bring spending back under control and fulfill the legislature’s constitutional duty.

Senate Pro Tem Kenneth Bogner sits down with Senator Daniel Zolnikov to break down a powerful package of bills aimed at protecting Montanans’ most personal data—your brainwaves, your DNA, your devices. From digital rights to the “freedom to compute,” they lay out how Montana is leading the charge for real privacy in the age of big tech and foreign threats.

Senator Becky Beard sits down with Kendall Cotton, Founder of the Frontier Institute, to discuss Montana’s education funding system — what’s working, what’s not, and how we can build a better path forward. From school zoning to funding formulas, they unpack the challenges students face today and explore ideas to make the system more fair, flexible, and focused on student success.

Senate President Matt Regier sits down with his colleague—and sister—Representative Amy Regier to talk about her bill, HB 388, which protects pregnancy centers from being forced to refer women to abortion clinics or present abortion as an option.

Senator Tony Tezak sits down with Representative Ed Byrne to discuss the current state of agriculture in Montana and how to properly manage our forests.

Representative Kathy Love sits down with Senator Theresa Manzella to discuss her SB 525 which gives Montana schools the option to re-integrate chaplains into their systems.

In this episode, Senator Wylie Galt and Speaker Brandon Ler break down four key bills they’re introducing in response to recent court decisions that expanded the scope of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). They explain why the Legislature is stepping in to reassert MEPA’s original purpose as a review process—not a regulatory weapon—and how their bills aim to restore balance, reduce litigation, and provide clarity for energy development, infrastructure, and state agency decision-making.

In this powerful episode, Sen. John Fuller and Derek Oestreicher explain SB 164 — a bill designed to protect minors from irreversible gender surgeries. Whistleblower Jamie Reed shares her firsthand account from inside a pediatric gender clinic, exposing alarming practices, while Elle Palmer, a brave young detransitioner, tells her personal story of regret and healing. Together, they shed light on the urgent need for safeguards and the reality behind the rhetoric.

After someone was killed in a Montana caregiving facility due to abuse, Sen. Ricci sits down with Sen. Yakawich to discuss his SB 296, a bill that would enhance penalties for crimes committed against vulnerable people in caregiving facilities.

In this special episode, Senator Cuffe sits down with the President of the Irish Senate to discuss the Ireland Trade Commission Bill, Montana’s deep Irish roots, and the lasting legacy of Thomas Francis Meagher. Don’t miss this engaging conversation on history, trade, and the future of Montana-Ireland relations!

In this episode, Senate President Matt Regier and Majority Leader Tom McGillvray dive into the Montana Senate’s constitutional role in confirming the governor’s nominees—including key judicial appointments. They’ll break down the confirmation process, discuss the importance of checks and balances, and explore what these decisions mean for the future of Montana’s courts and agencies.

Senator Usher, former vice chair of the Special Select Committee for Judicial Reform, joins Majority Leader Tom McGillvray to discuss a key judicial reform bill that will establish a General Claims Court in Montana. This bill is one of several efforts to streamline the court system, making it more efficient and ensuring fairer access to justice for Montanans.

Senator Forrest Mandeville and Representative Braxton Mitchell discuss some legislation they are working on that both enforces immigration reform and prevents illegal hiring, protecting Montana jobs.

Senator Bob Phalen sits down with Senator Theresa Manzella to discuss her SB 185 that would prohibit non-American citizens from voting in Montana’s elections.

Senate Pro-Tem Kenneth Bogner sits down with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen to tackle the growing threat of foreign adversaries in Montana. Their discussion highlights SB 306, a crucial bill that safeguards Montana homes by blocking foreign banks from gaining a foothold in the state’s real estate market.

Senate President Matt Regier sits down with Representative Jodee Etchart to discuss her HB 557 which prohibits using pupil-instruction-related days for state teacher organization meetings, ensuring they are reserved for training, parent conferences, and instructional improvement.

Senator Lenz joins former Representative Jennifer Carlson for a conversation on the over-regulation of private daycares and solutions to address it.

Senate President Matt Regier sits down with Representative Terry Falk to discuss his senate bill 232, which aims to reform the procurement process in Montana.

Senator Wylie Galt sits down with Senator Becky Beard to discuss her senate bill 263 which aims to restrict the state from taking ownership of water rights.

Senators Forrest Mandeville and Jeremy Trebas discuss the Montana Miracle and the legislation they’re advancing to build upon its success.

Senate President Matt Regier sits down with Senator Mike Yakawich to discuss Senate Bill 203 aimed at adjusting the income tax brackets to provide tax relief to Montanans.

Senator Greg Hertz, who serves as the chair of the Senate Tax Committee, sits down with Grover Norquist, the founder of Americans for Tax Reform to discuss what to do about Montana’s taxes.

Senate Pro-Tem Kenneth Bogner talks with special guest Leslie Hiner, an advocate for parental choice in K–12 education who currently serves as Vice President of Legal Affairs at EdChoice. Together they discuss educational freedom, homeschooling, and Montana’s infamous Espinoza Case.

The former Speaker of the House, Senator Wylie Galt, and Representative Randyn Gregg discuss water rights and the recent HELD decision.

Senator Sue Vinton and education expert Trish Schreiber discuss school choice and legislation they are working on to enhance educational freedom and excellence in Montana.

Senate President Matt Regier and Senator Becky Beard discuss her bill, SB 101, that seeks to proactively prevent squatting in Montana.

Representatives Bill Mercer and John Fitzpatrick discuss overcrowding in Montana’s prison system and potential solutions.

Senator Daniel Emrich and Majority Leader Tom McGillvray discuss two pieces of legislation they are bringing to reform Montana’s judiciary.

Listen as Montana Senate Majority Leader, Tom McGillvray, discusses the Convention of states with former founder of Patrick Henry College, CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, and current co-founder of the Convention of States.

The Montana Senate President and Pro-Tem discuss what is top-of-mind for all Montanans: property taxes. Listen to some of the proposals on the table this legislative session.

The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House discuss the big items that both chambers will be focusing on in the 2025 session inlcuding property taxes, medicaid expansion, and judicial reform.

Senate President Matt Regier and Pro Tempore Kenneth Bogner introduce the Montana Majority Report, your go-to source for quick, transparent, and informative updates on the policies, decisions, and people shaping Montana.

Hear straight from your Republican Lawmakers in Montana. We aim to bring you transparent, informative news quicker than it takes to get your morning cup of coffee.