We're thrilled to present a very special holiday episode of What the Helena! To celebrate 4/20, Izzy sat down with Max Savage Levenson, a journalist covering cannabis policy in the state and the man behind Big Sky Chat House. Topics include updates on the state of weed policy in Montana (and this legislature's proposed changes to that landscape), federal movement on cannabis regulation, and our legislative dream blunt rotations. Through it all, one thing is clear: weed has the power to unite us across difference. You can follow Forward Montana on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana. Learn more about us at forwardmontana.org. This episode was hosted by Izzy Milch, and edited by Cassidy Reeves and Izzy Milch.

This week, we cover some of the legislature's proposed amendments to the Montana Constitution, updates on some of the anti-trans bills we've covered so far this session, and the attempted revival of the failed LR-131 measure that appeared on the 2022 ballot. Read the full What the Helena newsletter & check out all our calls to action at this link. What the Helena is hosted by Forward Montana's Advocacy Team and edited by Cassidy Reeves.

We're back from transmittal break and off to the races! The second half of the session has already brought a handful of proposals to amend Montana's Constitution (a Constitution that Montanans overwhelmingly want to preserve). We discuss these amendments, partisan gerrymandering, some of the controversial bills already being heard in their second chamber, and more on this episode of What the Helena! To read the full What the Helena newsletter and check out this week's calls to action, follow this link. If you’re looking for an opportunity to make your voice heard in community, look no further! Forward Montana is hosting weekly Monday night “Write for our Rights” gatherings, where we discuss the bills moving that week and take action together. RSVP here for the Zoom link, and we’ll see you there! You can follow Forward Montana on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana. Learn more about us at forwardmontana.org. What the Helena is hosted by Forward Montana's Advocacy Team and edited by Cassidy Reeves.

This week is all about the money! Where's it going, and who's putting it there? We're past the transmittal deadline for general bills, which means the next couple weeks will bring their share of revenue bills, budget fights, and attempts to change Montana's Constitution. We dig into some of those proposals this week. Plus, we sat down with Nathan Dugan, co-founder of Shelter WF. We talk about some of the housing-related legislation moving through the legislature, how Shelter WF went from a homegrown organization to the driving force between one of the biggest housing reform bills of the session, and more! Learn more about Shelter WF and their work at https://www.shelterwf.org/. Forward Montana is on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana. You can learn more about us at forwardmontana.org. What the Helena is hosted by Forward Montana's Issue Advocacy Team. This episode was edited by Izzy Milch (with immense gratitude for Cassidy's hard work doing this every week!).

Welcome to another week of What the Helena! As we barrel toward transmittal, bills are flying through the legislative process at baffling rates and we're all trying our best to keep up. We're thrilled to report that, since the recording of this episode, SB 441, the attempt at reviving the Ballot Interference Protection Act, seems to have died a quiet, uneventful death. Take that, zombie! Want more information about how to contact your legislators, testify on bills, and otherwise engage with this fast-and-furious process? Check out our Legislative Resource Guide! You can view the full What the Helena newsletter along with this week's calls to action here. Forward Montana is on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana; find us online at forwardmontana.org What the Helena is hosted by Forward Montana's Advocacy Team and edited by Cassidy Reeves.

This week, our Senior Organizing Manager Lyla Brown chatted with Meshayla Cox, the Founder and Principal Consultant at CoEquity Consulting. Meshayla and Lyla talked about SB 222, the state's unwillingness to grapple with an authentic version of history, and their hopes for a more honest and equitable future. Check out the full What the Helena newsletter and all of this week's calls to action at this link. Join us in Bozeman on March 11 for the Montana Youth Organizing Summit! Looking for more tips and tricks for how to be involved in the legislative session? We've got you covered! This episode was hosted by Forward Montana's Advocacy Team and our Senior Organizing Manager, Lyla Brown! What the Helena is edited by Cassidy Reeves.

This week in the session brought some exciting housing bills, threats to democracy, and (more) attacks on trans kids. We had the opportunity to sit down with Senator Pat Flowers to talk about his defense of Montana's trans youth, his take on the current political environment, and advice for other state legislators and everyday folks who are watching these anti-trans bills unfold.  You can view all of our time-sensitive calls to action and check out the full What the Helena newsletter at this link. Join us in Bozeman on March 11th for the Montana Youth Organizing Summit: No Place Like (A) Home! RSVP here.   Stay in touch with Forward Montana on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana, and TikTok @forwardmontana. Learn more about us at forwardmontana.org. This episode was hosted by Forward Montana's Issue Advocacy Team and edited by Cassidy Reeves.

This week, we got to sit down with Martha Furman, the former director of Imagine IF libraries in the Flathead. We talked about book bans, censorship, access to information, and more!  February always has us drowning in the good, the bad, and the ugly bills. To see which ones we're asking folks to take action on (and how), head to this link! Remember - you can find step-by-step instructions for sending messages and giving public comment in our resource guide. Join us in Bozeman on March 11 for the Montana Youth Organizing Summit: No Place Like (A) Home, where we’ll talk about all things housing in Montana! There’s no cost to attend, and limited lodging and travel assistance is available for folks who RSVP by February 10. This episode was hosted by Forward Montana's Advocacy Team and edited by Cassidy Reeves. 

We've made it a whole month into the legislative session, and y'all have shown TF up for the things that matter to you. We can't thank you enough! This week, we talk money, freedom, trans rights, and more. Check out the full What the Helena newsletter and subscribe for weekly updates straight to your inbox at this link. No matter when you're listening to this episode, you can find all of this week's time-sensitive calls-to-action there, too! We know the session moves fast, and it can be hard to know how and when to be involved. To find all of our tips, tricks, and resources in one place, check out our brand new Legislative Session Resource Guide!  Watch Sen. Susan Webber's in her opening statement where she talked about her own experience as a boarding school survivor...watch here. You can follow Forward Montana on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana (check out our live-tweeting from the SB 99 hearing on Friday!) and on TikTok @forwardmontana. Learn more about us at forwardmontana.org.  This episode was hosted by Izzy Milch and Kat Elam, and edited by Cassidy Reeves.

In this week's episode, we talk about all kinds of power grabs: book bans, invasions of privacy, and decidedly undemocratic hearings. Plus, a special interview with Former Representative Mallerie Stromswold, one of the state's youngest elected officials who resigned her seat in the legislature last week.   Find out who your representatives are and how to contact them at this link. Then, ask them to support efforts to address Montana's crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People by voting YES on HB 163 and HB 18.  Send the House Judiciary Committee a message opposing HB 234 at this link.  You can follow Forward Montana on Instagram and Twitter @forward_montana, and on TikTok at @forwardmontana. Learn more about us at forwardmontana.org.   This episode of What the Helena is hosted by Forward Montana’s advocacy team, with featured guest Mallerie Stromswold. This episode was edited by Cassidy Reeves.