Speaker of the House B. Ler (R) delayed signing it into law, a loophole allowing them to delay. Once the Speaker signs, then the Governor’s sign clock begins.

I recently dove down the rabbit hole that is the Montana Plan and I genuinely think this has a chance of working, even if it’s just a start to something more concrete. I’m curious, does anyone know why this isn’t getting more attention in national discussions? Just another case of mainstream media trying to protect corporate money?

In case you haven’t been following Montana’s effort to ban political spending by corporations or are interested in learning more, I made a video you can check out below:

https://youtu.be/eJMTIcFi_vU?si=CarxNicPQ7qTmd5o

State lawmakers are seeking ways to regulate kratom ahead of the 2027 legislative session, arguing that synthetic concoctions of the drug are too dangerous to leave unchecked for another year.

Use of both naturally and synthetically derived kratom products has surged in recent decades, spurring many states to adopt new regulations. As of April 2025, 18 states had laws regulating the manufacture and sale of kratom products and six states recognized compounds in kratom as controlled substances. 

Montana currently has no laws on the books relating to kratom or its active ingredients — a fact that many members of the Law and Justice Interim Committee lamented during a Jan. 14 meeting. 

“This whole kratom thing really bothers me. I mean, it really does,” said Sen. Vince Ricci, R-Billings. “It’s being sold in convenience stores. It’s in energy drink fashion. There’s no age restrictions, so 12-year-olds can buy it.” 

Montana lawmakers look to regulate kratom ahead of 2027 session | Daily Inter Lake

The U.S. Senate passed a bill that contains $12.2 million in funding for several Montana projects, including appropriations for both the town of St. Ignatius and the St. Ignatius Police Department.  

The funding was announced Friday in a press release from U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy, who has been a proponent.  

The town of St. Ignatius put in applications for federal funds through U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke and Senators Sheehy and Steve Daines to help them replace their deteriorating sewer pipes. This is a $5.8 million project that St. Ignatius is struggling to find funds for, according to previous Lake County Leader reporting.  

According to the press release from Sheehy’s office, the bill contains $4.6 million for Mission’s wastewater system along with $185,000 for new patrol cars for the police department.  

“That’s freaking incredible,” St. Ignatius Mayor Daren Incashola said as the Leader told him the news.  

Bill containing funding for Mission sewer and police headed to president’s desk | Daily Inter Lake