AGP Executive Report

Public Lands & Jobs: Rep. Ryan Zinke and Montana lawmakers back GAOA 250, a bid to reauthorize and modernize the Great American Outdoors Act with $1.9B over five years for parks, forests, and recreation—aimed at maintenance backlogs and local economic boosts. Healthcare Oversight: Congressman Troy Downing and State Auditor James Brown urge stronger state authority over Medicare Advantage, pushing federal changes so Montana officials can better protect seniors when coverage or provider networks go wrong. Local Business & Community: The Anaconda Leader abruptly shut down after 55 years, citing inflation and rising operating costs—another hit to local news and advertising ecosystems. Sports & Economic Spillover: Montana Knife Company joins the University of Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium turf sponsorship, signaling how Montana brands are landing higher-visibility partnerships. Regulation & Accountability: A judge cleared the way for former Senate President Jason Ellsworth’s official misconduct case to proceed to trial, while lifting his suspension. State Economy Signals: A new hiring map shows big regional divergence since 2020, with Montana’s job openings change lagging in the latest snapshot. Outdoor Recreation & Water: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will close part of the Blackfoot River for bridge repairs starting mid-July through fall, affecting anglers and the Gateway Trail.

Montana Politics & Business Climate: The Montana Supreme Court approved updated ballot language for I-194, “The Montana Plan,” which would restrict political spending by “artificial persons” (including many nonprofits and corporations) and impose business-privilege forfeiture for violations. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Bozeman is spotlighting Bozeman Creek’s downtown tunnel-and-culvert system, a long-hidden piece of city infrastructure that residents say has been “channelized” and neglected. Courts & Public Services: Federal courthouses in Montana will close June 19 for Juneteenth, pushing hearings and services to later dates. Economic Development & Community Business: Big Sky Chamber of Commerce honored local leaders and businesses at its 29th annual Black Diamond Awards, including an Emerging Entrepreneur award for Blue Moon Bakery’s Patrick Griffith. Energy & Regulation: Black Hills Corp. filed a Colorado rate review seeking $26.7 million in new annual revenue to recover costs for grid and reliability investments. Agriculture & Animal Health: New World screwworm has spread into the U.S., with Texas quarantines and new movement rules for warm-blooded animals. Workforce & Public Sentiment: A Washington Post report finds many union voters are sour on both Trump and Democrats, citing costs and economic concerns. Food & Jobs: Chick-fil-A opened in Butte, adding 110 jobs and pledging $25,000 to the Montana Food Bank. Civic Opposition to Tech Growth: Missoula-area groups are organizing against a proposed data center near Bonner, arguing it would strain water and benefit from tax incentives.

Medicaid Overhaul: CMS has issued final rules requiring many Medicaid enrollees to prove they’re working or doing approved activities, with states scrambling to update systems ahead of a Jan. 1, 2027 rollout. Education Funding: Montana hit a major milestone, topping $1 billion in permanent K-12 investment from trust land revenues managed through the Trust Fund Investment Pool. Opioid Response: Missoula Public Health is expanding overdose prevention and harm-reduction programs with $333,300 from Montana’s Opioid Abatement Trust for 2026-27. Local Economy & Community: The Upper Thompson Conservation Easement proposal would protect more than 34,600 acres in northwest Montana, aiming to preserve working forestland, recreation, and wildlife access. Business & Growth: A new data center proposal near Sidney would use “unwanted” Bakken gas to power crypto mining operations, with DEQ weighing air and water impacts. Politics & Transparency: Montana’s anti–dark money ballot initiative faces scrutiny over how its own backers are funded, raising questions about disclosure.

Housing & Development: Kalispell’s planning commission reviewed a proposed Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley project, Birchwood PUD, aiming for 95 homes just off the U.S. 93 bypass, with about 30 units reserved for Habitat and affordability tools like mortgage rate buy-downs. State Politics & Courts: The Montana Supreme Court certified a ballot measure that would restrict corporate election spending, continuing a legal fight over how far states can go beyond Citizens United. Public Lands & Wildfire Policy: A Senate committee advanced a short-notice push to repeal the Roadless Rule, with critics calling it a wildfire bill used to reshape federal land management. Business & Economy: Lemonade expanded renters insurance to Montana, offering app-based quotes and claims with policies starting at $5 a month. Local Business: Missoula’s Heelside Boards is preparing to open, focusing on kiteboarding and wake gear plus other water and winter sports equipment. Ag & Food Manufacturing: In Conrad, a rancher is building a small facility to turn Montana-raised beef and lamb into shelf-stable meals. Healthcare & Privacy: A growing lawsuit wave targets “AI scribes” that record doctor visits, raising consent and data-retention concerns. Energy & Infrastructure: A planned power interruption was announced for parts of Tshwane, South Africa, tied to a major substation refurbishment.

SNAP & Disaster Relief: North Dakota HHS says SNAP replacement benefits are available for households that lost food in June storm power outages lasting more than four hours, including some Montana-Dakota Utilities and other utility service areas. Business Climate: WalletHub ranks Montana 12th for starting a business, praising affordability and cheap office space while flagging weaker access to resources. Energy & Environment: A Billings-area data center plan near Broadview is drawing scrutiny after records show proposed gas-fired generation far larger than the state’s typical residential use, raising questions about “renewable” messaging. Immigration Enforcement Funding: Montana AG Austin Knudsen leads a 22-state coalition urging Congress to pass long-term funding for CBP and ICE. Courts & Elections: The Montana Supreme Court approved rewritten ballot language for the Transparent Election Initiative limiting corporate political contributions. Mining Jobs: Stillwater Mine plans to hire 150 workers after 2024 layoffs, citing palladium recovery but noting parts of the operation remain in maintenance mode. Public Health Costs: A federal audit describes waste and safety risks at Camp East Montana, including missing or destroyed materials in a detainee death case. Rural Care Planning: Montana coverage explains Medicaid liens and estate recovery rules that can affect families seeking long-term care. Local Economy: Montana’s gas prices show week-to-week volatility, with Golden Valley County reporting a low of $4.95 for regular.

Immigration Oversight: A new GAO watchdog report says ICE’s Camp East Montana in Texas wasted millions, endangered detainees’ health, and even lost or destroyed evidence tied to a detainee death—adding pressure for shutdowns and contractor changes. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy price checks show Montana fuel staying volatile, with some counties seeing premium around the low-$5 range and midgrade/regular often tracking statewide averages for the week ending May 30. Wildfire Policy & Conflict of Interest: ProPublica reports Sen. Tim Sheehy pushed to cut Forest Service firefighting aircraft inspections while his former company, Bridger Aerospace, had an inspector-flagged crack in a scooper wing—raising questions about safety and oversight. Mining & Water: DEQ approved Sentinel Metals’ amended gold exploration in the Blackfoot River headwaters, allowing core drilling with water trucked from a nearby well and required concurrent reclamation. Local Economy & Community: Missoula’s Indigenous Made Summer Market returns to Caras Park this weekend, spotlighting Native-owned makers and businesses. Public Health: FDA expanded a pet food recall tied to possible thiamine deficiency, warning of neurologic risks for cats and dogs.

Telehealth & Mental Health Access: A new look at America’s “psychiatric desert” highlights how provider shortages leave jails, rural clinics, and schools without timely psychiatric care—and why telepsychiatry is becoming a practical bridge. AI Compliance for RIAs: Regulators and courts are zeroing in on the risks of AI tools that auto-transcribe and summarize client calls, raising concerns tied to privacy and state wiretapping rules. Housing & Planning: Kalispell City Council moved forward on a potential temporary affordable housing advisory board and asked planners to consider design standards for future development along the Parkline Trail. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports show Montana’s regular gas averaging about $4.56 for the week ending May 30, with the lowest local prices ranging from the mid-$4s to about $5. Critical Minerals (Montana link): IRIS Metals is expanding a U.S.-focused critical minerals portfolio, adding tungsten exposure via its Montana project. Immigration Detention Oversight: A federal watchdog report says Camp East Montana wasted up to $11.5 million early on and flagged serious safety and medical failures. Local Business & Community: Rocky Mountain College announced President Robert Wilmouth will retire in June 2027, capping 15 years of leadership.

Detention Oversight: A new GAO report says the Trump administration cut corners at Camp East Montana, contributing to substandard conditions and preventable deaths, while also wasting tens of millions in taxpayer dollars. Health & Consumer Protection: New York AG Letitia James helped secure a $36.5 million CVS settlement over Medicaid insulin overbilling, and the FDA expanded a pet food recall tied to dangerously low thiamine levels in certain GO Raw products. Montana Agriculture & Workforce: UW Extension hired veteran and pilot Erik Bailly as an agriculture and natural resources educator in Sublette County, and the Montana Agribusiness Foundation named its 2026 scholarship recipients. Local Business & Housing: Missoula officials are pushing an affordable housing project in Midtown forward for low-income housing tax credits, and Community Medical Center in Missoula launched a hospital-based detox program for alcohol and opioid withdrawal. Construction & Infrastructure: Missoula announced major road work, including a chip-seal project and a 10-week water main replacement on South 14th Street. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported the lowest midgrade and diesel prices in multiple Montana counties for the week ending May 30, underscoring continued fuel-price volatility.

Big Jobs Push for Great Falls: Janicki Industries is moving forward on an $800M manufacturing campus in Great Falls, targeting 1,000 jobs in five years and 2,000+ after buildout, with average pay projected at $65,000-$120,000—sparking both excitement and housing affordability questions. Business Climate Watch: Montana labor data shows openings still outpacing closures, with the state ranking 16th for five-year business survival, even as owners report cost and staffing pressure. Energy Prices, Up Close: GasBuddy price reports show weekly fuel volatility across Montana counties, including diesel at $5.75 in Golden Valley County and regular as low as $4.57 in Silver Bow County. Agriculture & Food Security: Livingston’s “21 Cows” initiative is stepping in as federal food support cuts reduce pantry protein supplies, aiming to keep families fed in Park County. Livestock Biosecurity: Montana issued an emergency order halting imports of certain animals from New World Screwworm-affected areas after a Texas confirmation. Mining Update: Red Mountain Mining says it has identified outcropping garnet skarn at its Pioneer tungsten project and submitted rock chips for tungsten assays, with results expected by end of June. Policy & Oversight: Senators asked the DOT inspector general to review Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s corporate-donor-funded road trip video series.

Rural Health & Drug Supply: A $3.2 million grant will let rural hospitals pool buying power to access cheaper generics and reduce the risk of drug shortages. State Politics: Montana’s U.S. Senate race is taking shape after a Democratic primary upset, setting up a general election matchup against Republican Kurt Alme and independent Seth Bodnar. Workforce & Federal Operations: Forest Service employees are challenging a USDA reorganization, warning Montana could see more than 500 staff affected and relocation numbers may be far higher than officials predicted. Public Safety & Land Management: Missoula County is updating its wildfire protection plan, shifting messaging toward living with fire risk and boosting individual responsibility alongside mitigation. Tribal Business & Travel IDs: The Blackfeet Nation is rolling out Enhanced Tribal Identification cards approved for Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative compliance. Montana Economy & Growth: Mobix Labs signed a letter of intent to acquire Montana drone maker Vision Aerial, aiming to expand into defense, public safety, and aerial intelligence markets. Local Business Closures: After 55-plus years, the Anaconda Leader newspaper and print shop has closed, citing inflation and rising operating costs. Education & Skills Pipeline: Montana is named a semifinalist for the U.S. Department of Education’s Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show Montana fuel prices remain volatile, with multiple counties posting week-ending May 30 lows for diesel and premium.

Defense & Tech Deal: Mobix Labs signed a binding letter of intent to buy Montana drone maker Vision Aerial, aiming to expand in defense, public safety, energy and critical infrastructure as demand rises for domestically built systems. Local Aviation Governance: The Gallatin Airport Authority set an agenda for its June 11 meeting, including an East Terminal expansion cost review and multiple hangar and land lease decisions. Healthcare Policy: The Trump administration’s Medicaid work requirements push is moving into enforcement, with states facing paperwork-heavy compliance rules that could threaten coverage for millions. Community Services Data: A nonprofit reported real-time results from a nationwide online community service program, highlighting who completes court-ordered hours and what barriers they face. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy data showed Montana fuel staying volatile, with several counties posting the week’s lowest midgrade and diesel prices around late May. Public Lands & Energy Debate: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren unveiled a plan to prohibit new oil and gas drilling on federal lands, setting up a major policy fight over public lands management. Wildlife & Tourism Safety: A San Diego man described surviving a grizzly bear attack at Glacier National Park, underscoring the risks visitors face in peak season.

Montana Land Policy: Montana land swaps are getting more political, with critics saying the Land Board’s faster process shifts power away from DNRC and could leave the public with a raw deal. Energy & Costs: Gas prices stayed volatile across Montana in late May, with spot lows reported in multiple counties (including regular at $4.11 in Prairie County and diesel at $4.89 in Richland County), while national drivers face pressure from global oil and refinery outages. Health Insurance: Cigna is exiting Florida’s Obamacare marketplace in 2027, joining Aetna’s earlier departure and raising fears of a “death spiral” as premiums rise and options shrink. AI & Adoption: Microsoft data shows Vermont near the bottom for AI tool use, with Montana also lagging—an adoption gap that could matter for workforce and business productivity. Local Business Leadership: Whitefish’s chamber named Katherine Archibald as its next executive director, tapping a chamber veteran with Montana ties. Military & Training: Montana’s 103rd Public Affairs Detachment welcomed new specialists, highlighting how service members pivot into communications roles.

Montana Land Policy: A new, faster land-swap process is shifting power from DNRC to Montana’s five-member Land Board, raising concerns that political influence could outweigh public protections when state parcels are traded for private land. Energy & Power: Montana environmental groups warned at a Missoula meeting that data centers could drive major electricity demand—NorthWestern Energy has letters of intent tied to plans consuming roughly 850 to 1,400 megawatts by 2030. Health Care Spending: In Polson, Medicaid billing for pathology and lab services totaled $26,033 in 2024, up 1.1% from 2023, reflecting how local public health dollars flow. Local Government: Fallon County released its June 8-12 agenda, including EMS budget talks, road updates, and multiple department financial and operational sessions. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show Montana averages near $4.56 for regular and about $4.91 for midgrade in the week ending May 30, with wide county-by-county swings.

Manufacturing & Jobs: Janicki Industries will invest $800 million to build a new Great Falls manufacturing campus, aiming for 1,000 jobs in five years and more than 2,000 total, as Montana pitches itself as “open for business.” Energy Policy: The Trump administration is preparing nearly $700 million in federal support for coal, including Defense Production Act funding for existing plants and grants for new builds—plus a potential California export terminal. Power & Data Centers: Missoula-area groups warned at a public meeting that data centers could consume 850 to 1,400 megawatts by 2030, straining Montana’s electricity supply. Public Lands & Recreation: A draft Forest Service order would expand year-round off-road vehicle access on millions of acres, with major implications for Montana and Idaho. Forestry: Montana expanded a Shared Stewardship forest management partnership, adding a new Lolo National Forest landscape to bring the total near one million acres. Politics: Montana’s Democratic Senate race took shape after Alani Bankhead’s primary win, setting up a general election against GOP Kurt Alme and independent Seth Bodnar. Local Government Procurement: Bozeman reissued an RFP for a Bridger Parking Garage sewer line reroute, with bids due June 25. Healthcare: CMS data shows Yellowstone River Nursing and Rehabilitation in Yellowstone County received a 1-star overall rating in Q1 2026, with multiple fines and penalties.

Big Business & Jobs: Janicki Industries will invest about $800 million in a new Great Falls manufacturing campus, adding 2 million sq. ft. of production space and targeting 1,000 jobs in five years (and 2,000+ long term), as Gov. Greg Gianforte pitches Montana as “open for business.” Forest & Wildfire Risk: Montana expanded its Shared Stewardship forest management partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, adding a third landscape in the Lolo National Forest and bringing the total to nearly 1 million acres under shared stewardship. Cost of Living: A new national look at EIA data shows Montana electricity prices up about 13% year over year, with electricity becoming a faster-rising household expense. Rural Health: The UW School of Medicine received a $25 million gift to fund rural and Indigenous medical scholarships across the WWAMI region, including Montana. Local Community & Health Access: Bozeman opened an accessible Lindley Park trail funded through a $42,000 city grant with Ability Montana. Legal Tech: Florida amended court rules to require attorneys to verify AI-cited legal authorities, after “hallucinated” cases made it into filings.

Social Security Crunch: A new analysis warns the retirement trust fund could run out by 2032, triggering automatic benefit cuts averaging about $500 a month, with nearly 1 million Alabamians potentially affected—an issue that will ripple into household spending and local economies. Flathead Lake Development Watch: DEQ held a virtual public hearing on sanitary and water facilities for phase one of a luxury resort near Flathead Lake (Territory 1889), with residents and watchdog groups pressing for deeper review of wastewater and long-term lake impacts. Tribal Small-Business Relief: The SBA announced low-interest disaster loans for Crow Tribe and Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes businesses, nonprofits, and residents hit by severe winter storms and straight-line winds. Montana Energy & Costs: GasBuddy price reports show Montana regular and midgrade prices mostly hovering in the mid-$4s to low-$5s statewide in the week ending May 30, underscoring continued volatility tied to global oil and refinery conditions. Agriculture Stress: Montana farm bankruptcies under Chapter 12 tripled in 2025, and economists warn 2026 could be worse without more support. Livestock Biosecurity: Montana issued an emergency order restricting animal imports after a New World Screwworm detection in Texas, requiring permits and strict entry conditions. Local Retail: Billings Hardware announced it’s closing June 9, followed by a liquidation sale starting June 11.