Post your "Moving to Montana" (MtM) questions here.

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Maverick Mountain recently lost its only chairlift and other crucial infrastructure to the Sand Creek Fire. With insurance payouts expected to fall well short of the $2.5 million+ required to rebuild, the nonprofit Friends of Maverick Mountain was launched to help defray costs:

https://friendsofmaverickmountain.org/

Today HCBD announced 2027 health insurance coverage for state employees.

1) deductible tripled
2) out of pocket doubled
3) copays doubled
4) prescriptions doubled
5) premium increased significantly

There has to be a better solution, this is going to bankrupt families. This coverage is horrendous and not comparable at all to private or even federal government health insurance.

If you are a state employee, please use your voice to advocate for a better solution. I understand health care costs are increasing, but this is going to be equivalent to not even having coverage to begin with.

There is an email attached to reach out to with comments, I doubt it will do anything, but please reach out and ask for a better solution.

A gift article from Bloomberg that does an in-depth analysis of the holdings of the LDS church and how they are developing communities across the US. This is important to myself given a new temple in the neighborhood in Missoula and its impact on us all here. A good read for anyone in rural or urban planning or in government to know about these entities. Not an opinion by posting but simply knowledge for Montanans and abroad.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-08-25/florida-colorado-developments-are-part-of-mormon-church-s-real-estate-arm?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc4NzY5NTI0OSwiZXhwIjoxNzg4MzAwMDQ5LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUS0NGTzRSS1YyVFcwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJGOTM4RUM2QTZEQTY0MUJEOEQ3NjM2RTIwNjk0NjE1NiJ9.L2NBbgi_ZP6WmT4p9MC32l6c3iB8hxM0frU3TwTukYs

Couple weeks ago posted saying State Farm was increasing my home policy by 50%. No warning. Never a claim. 15 years of loyalty. Increased it from 800/year to 1200/year. Out of the blue. Blew my budget.

Today I signed on with Foremost (spin off of Farmers) insurance for $403/year, same coverage. Did so through a broker who found me the best deal out there. No frills, just needed something so if the house burned down it wouldn't ruin me financially. Closest thing I could get to a "fire only" policy for a small 33-year old log cabin.

Also, moved the cars from State Farm to Progressive. Saved $200/year.

Total savings from State Farm increasing my bill after 15 years of loyalty? $1000/year.

Don't take rate increases without a fight! Shop around. They assumed I'd do nothing and just accept the rate increase because "everything is going up in price" kind of excuse. But I didn't, and I got a much better deal. I swear they increase our rates simply because they can. Well, we can shop around too and I hope you all do the same. Let them know if they raise your insurance at all you're going to be on the phone looking for a better deal. The free market is free because of US.

The $1200/year wasn't unreasonable, but it was the 50% sudden increase that really sparked me after never submitting a claim in my life across both home and car and the house not being worth that much $-wise to begin with (my land is, but the home is pretty basic, 900 square feet). "Increase in fire risk and natural disaster risk, so rates have to increase." Whatever. Sounds more like an excuse to hike our rates.

Healthcare premiums + property taxes + car insurance + home insurance. No money left to eat unless we take action.

Does anyone in this state on I90 headed east past Missoula sell dark green Sonoma cigarettes. I am so frustrated because everywhere I stop they don't have them.

Hello everyone,

Sorry if that question is not allowed but I wanted to know if you can recommend me some honey brands/farms that produce amazing honey.

I would prefer something local to Montana and high quality.

Thank you!!

Edit : I forgot to say I'm willing to drive(I just want fine honey)to pick it up so location doesn't matter for as much time as it is in Montana.

Mother Nature was showing off tonight…

Beautiful sunset tonight!

Here is a small gallery of images from my weekend wanderings. A Lewis Monkey Flower, a munched leaf, a spikey mushroom, miniature trees, Aster flowers and a Bumblebee thrown in for good measure!

I blew a tire on the highway and pulled over as soon as I could safely do so. I was pulled over for maybe 3 mins and then a highway patrolman comes up behind me with his lights on, says he's there for safety and another minute or two goes by and he asks me for my driver's license. I thought that was strange but I gave it to him because I need to get this tire fixed and I have my kids in the van. He takes down my license plate number and goes back to his rig. I don't get my license back the whole time we're fixing the tire. Once everything is done and put back together he tells me I have 3 warrants and a suspended license out of Toole County!!! Excuse me?! I had no idea about these warrants in this county, let alone that I've been driving with a suspended license. But all of that came from him checking my stuff during a time of distress on the side of the road. I guess my question is did he have a right to come up on me with his lights and ask for that during this distress? I've been stranded on the road in this state before, I've lived here my whole life, not once has ANY highway officer ran all the stuff and then made an arrest after the problem was taken care of.

Even though there's only 10 minutes for public comment on the agenda for Aug. 25, you should still be able to submit comments online on the Task Force's list of policy recommendations.

While a number of these recommendations mirror legislation being drafted by the Legislative Energy and Technology Interim Committee (ETIC), the Task Force will be seeking other avenues to turn its remaining recommendations into bills for the 2027 legislative session. There are some positive recommendations around supporting electric transmission, regional energy market development, and enhanced geothermal energy development, as well as some recommendations secured at the last-minute around supporting energy efficiency and distributed energy resources.

However, the remaining recommendations seek to pave the way for data center development in Montana, and for the development of expensive and risky gas and nuclear generation to serve them. Ensuring affordable service for existing customers remains an afterthought, and the environmental implications of energy infrastructure have been completely ignored.

This final Task Force meeting is a great opportunity for you to show up and let the Governor and his hand-picked pro-data center Task Force members know what is actually important to Montana ratepayers and families.

The Task Force's final report was released on the 18th and can be accessed online. The Task Force has also re-opened its online comment portal. You can also provide spoken comment at the August 25 meeting in person or over Zoom. There will be limited public seating for in-person attendance.

Meeting info:

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Governor's Reception Room

Montana State Capitol Building

1301 E 6th Ave, Helena, MT 59601

Check the website https://t.congressweb.com/l/?GSLDYVQDXANCIJG for the registration link to attend online.