Montana

Judge strikes down Montana law defining sex as only male or female for procedural reasons – Times of India

Published

2 years ago

June 26, 2024

MISSOULA: A judge on Tuesday struck down a Montana law that defined “sex” in state law as only male or female, finding that it was unconstitutional.
District court judge Shane Vannatta in Missoula ruled the law, passed last year, violated the state constitution because the description of the legislation did not clearly state its purpose.
Transgender, nonbinary, intersex and other plaintiffs challenged the law, similar to ones passed in Kansas and Tennessee, because they said it denies legal recognition and protections to people who are gender-nonconforming.
Vannatta did not address that argument, simply finding that the bill’s title did not explain whether the word “sex” referred to sexual intercourse or gender, and did not indicate that the words “female” and “male” would be defined in the body of the bill.
“The title does not give general notice of the character of the legislation in a way that guards against deceptive or misleading titles,” Vannatta wrote.
The bill was approved during a legislative session that also passed a ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors and saw transgender lawmaker democratic rep Zooey Zephyr expelled from the house floor, following a protest against republican lawmakers who had silenced her.
The law that was struck down by Vannatta was sponsored by republican senator Carl Glimm, who said the legislation was necessary after a 2022 court ruling in which a state judge said transgender residents could change the gender markers on their birth certificates.
A spokesperson for republican governer Greg Gianforte, who signed the bill into law, did not immediately return an after-hours email seeking comment on the ruling.
The American civil liberties union of Montana praised it.
“Today’s ruling is an important vindication of the safeguards that the Montana constitution places on legislative enactments,” the group’s legal director, Alex Rate, said.

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Montana

Federal Approval of Montana Logging Project Survives Lawsuit

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12 hours ago

April 10, 2026

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Federal Approval of Montana Logging Project Survives Lawsuit

A 16,700-acre logging project outside Missoula, Mont. will continue after a federal judge ruled the US Bureau of Land Management adequately reviewed potential impacts to endangered grizzly bears and Canada lynx.

The agency properly calculated road density and the increased traffic through the Garnet Mountain range even if several routes have since become impassible through vegetation growth and will have to be cleared in critical habitat areas, according to an order issued Thursday by the US District Court for the District of Montana.

Judge Dana L Christensen granted summary judgment for the bureau in 2024 lawsuit over its approval of …

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Montana

Grizzly moved from Montana to Togwotee for genetics spotted with cubs in Teton Wilderness

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24 hours ago

April 10, 2026

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Grizzly moved from Montana to Togwotee for genetics spotted with cubs in Teton Wilderness

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Montana

Highway ad sign costs double, pricing out Montana business owners

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2026

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Highway ad sign costs double, pricing out Montana business owners

BILLINGS— Sponsorship of businesses on Montana highway exit signs have doubled in cost, pricing out some small business owners.

Montana Logos, which manages the signs, renegotiated its contract within the last year with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), which resulted in prices doubling for most customers. They refer to the signs as tourist-oriented directional signs (TODS).

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Highway ad sign costs double, pricing out Montana business owners

Transportation officials say they increased the costs to match rising costs. According to Bob Heiser, MDT Right of Way bureau chief, the department and Montana Logos have not increased costs for years.

“The contract was up for renewal this past year. And during that renewal process, we asked them to look at this program. And that’s when we discovered that there hadn’t been any rate changes in at least 21 years,” Heiser told MTN.

Heiser said the increased revenue will fund highway projects and other infrastructure.

“We feel it’s still an affordable way for some of those businesses to have some advertisement along our interstates,” he added.

Some business owners in Big Horn County disagree.

“I just don’t understand how a company can gouge small businesses. That wasn’t in my budget,” said Kristy Mastin, owner of the KOA campground in Hardin.

Vanessa Willardson/Q2

Kristy Mastin

She received an invoice for $4,800 in February to keep her business on the exit signs. She paid $2,400 last year for the same service.

“I was dumbfounded,” said Mastin.

Other campground owners in the county shared Mastin’s shock.

Screen Shot 2026-04-09 at 6.24.45 PM.png — Mastin’s February invoice

“We can’t afford that as a small business to suddenly have one aspect of our advertising raised that much,” said Jamie Redger, owner of 7th Ranch RV Camp in Garryowen.

His costs quadrupled in a year, increasing from $1,200 to $4,800, after Montana Logos told him he had to pay to be on the signs for a full year. In the past, he had only paid for half the year.

“At this point, I’ve told Montana Logos that I don’t plan to renew with them,” said Redger.

Screen Shot 2026-04-09 at 6.23.21 PM.png — Jamie Redger

Another campground, Grandview Campground and RV Park, may be disappearing from the signs as well.

“We have to ask ourselves, what can we cut out? And Montana Logo is probably going to be it,” said the campground’s owner, Laurie Tschetter.

She is concerned about how the lack of advertising will affect the tourism industry in her community.

“We are kind of the backbone of bringing a lot of tourism dollars back into this state,” said Tschetter.

Screen Shot 2026-04-09 at 6.23.02 PM.png — Laurie Tschetter

The business owners are working with the Hardin Chamber of Commerce, in hopes the state will hear their voices and give them a grant.

“I want to support these businesses and our communities and whatever we need to do next, whether it’s a letter or taking it up a little higher. That’s all we can do,” said Alexandria Edwards, with the Hardin Chamber of Commerce.

The community is also starting to consider advertising alternatives.