Gov. Gianforte signs main state budget bill into law

HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 2 Wednesday, the main state budget bill, that will guide state spending for the next biennium.

The law details some $14 billion in state spending; including money for new state troopers and prosecutors to combat crime, increases to the Medicaid reimbursement rate for health care providers, and hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure spending-from roads and bridges to the state prison.

Gianforte’s office also highlighted that the budget pays off all of the state’s general obligation debt saving Montana $40 million over the next two years.

HB 2, as amended by the Senate, cleared the Montana House on May 2. It would take more than a month to be signed by Senate President Jason Ellsworth and transmitted to the governor’s desk.

Governor Gianforte signed the bill as passed by the legislature without using his line-item veto power.