“We held them incarcerated for however long, 10, 12, 15, 20 years,” Committee chair Rep. Barry Usher, R-Billings, said during the hearing on Friday. "We owe them something."

Montana lawmakers maneuvered the Senate rules Monday to get a bill shielding businesses from COVID-19-related civil lawsuits through the Senate and over to the House.

Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, said HB 121 makes elected officials accountable to those who disagree with the health directives, rather than the appointed health officials.

"That's a pretty drastic measure," Knudsen said. 

Lawmakers will also seek funding for paid sick leave for legislative staff, some of which have been working remotely through the first two weeks of the session.

"I have the right to tell my story," Rep. Jim Keane, D-Butte, said during Wednesday's House debate on a bill to allow people to carry firearms on campus.

"This bill is about them fostering a good relationship and being able to work well together without a piano hanging over someone’s head," said Brian Thompson, a lobbyist for the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.

"We're going to continue to lead the country in the MMIP area," Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. 

Montana lawmakers will consider two anti-trans bills next week, one of which would fine healthcare providers for providing gender affirming treatment to transgender youth and the other seeking to force athletes to participate in sports aligned with gender assigned at birth

"I get tired of picking up these kids, people, adults," said Rep. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, who worked on ambulance crews after he left the military.