Governor Gianforte Celebrates Legislative Victories in North Central Montana

Governor Gianforte Celebrates Legislative Victories in North Central Montana

• September 17 2025

GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Continuing his 56 County Tour in north central Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte today visited with legislators, teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers to celebrate several priorities from the legislative session.

"Working with our partners in the legislature and in our communities, we made great progress this legislative session on our shared priorities - especially when it comes to public safety and education," Gov. Gianforte said. "It's great to see the impact of our policies at work in north central Montana."

Gov. Gianforte, Rep. Llew Jones, and Montana fire chiefs highlighting increased support for volunteer firefighters in Conrad

Starting the day in Pondera County, the governor visited the Conrad Fire Station to recognize House Bill 128 and House Bill 129 that increase support for Montana's volunteer firefighters. Sponsored by Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, the bills create an income tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and protect them from termination at work.

Joining Rep. Jones, Conrad Fire Chief Kevin Moritz, and dozens of fire chiefs from across Montana, the governor held a ceremonial signing for the bills before visiting with firefighters.

"No one should be at risk of losing their job for serving our community. Now, if you answer the call, your job is protected. And with the tax break, we say thank you to all volunteers and hope it encourages all local departments to recruit more firefighters," Rep. Jones said.

"Now more than ever, we're seeing great support for our volunteer and local firefighters - from the state and the local community. With the bills passed this session, we hope we can recruit and maintain more members and ensure those who serve in a volunteer capacity at protected at work," Chief Moritz said.

Traveling to Teton County, Gov. Gianforte visited Fairfield High School to ceremonially sign House Bill 252, sponsored by Rep. Jones, and celebrate the STARS Act for increasing starting teacher pay and expanding opportunities for Montana students.

In 2021, the governor introduced the TEACH Act, or Tomorrow's Educators Are Coming Home Act, to provide incentives to school districts to increase starting teacher pay. The STARS Act continues these incentives to school districts to increase baseline teacher pay while also fully funding the Advanced Opportunities Act so that more students can take advantage of dual credit and work-based learning.

"Working with Governor Gianforte and with both sides of the aisle in the legislature, we've made great progress to deliver results for Montana students and teachers. STARS is a performance-based formula that directs dollars to where they matter which is into the classrooms, to pay beginning and master teachers. It also ensures that our students are able to secure more dual-credits so that they have better success finding a job or continuing education," Rep. Llew Jones.

During the visit, the governor heard from Fairfield Schools Superintendent Dustin Gordon who praised the governor and representative for the investments in education that allowed Fairfield Schools to hire first-year teachers and invest in hands on learning programs for students in and out of the classroom.

Touring the school, Gov. Gianforte met with students participating in Career and Technical Education classes to hear about their woodworking and home building projects.

Gov. Gianforte signing House Bill 323 with Sheriff Slaughter and Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick in Great Falls

Continuing to Cascade County, Gov. Gianforte joined Sheriff Jessie Slaughter and Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, to spotlight House Bill 323 which increased resources to counties to hire deputies, specifically reserve deputy sheriffs to increase officers in schools.

"Through the bill, we're providing counties with additional resources to provide more compensation for reserve deputies. This will allow county governments to increase their manpower for projects like the school safety program - serving as yet another tool for law enforcement to be able to hire additional personnel," Rep. Fitzpatrick said.

Highlighting the bill and its impact on rural communities, Sheriff Slaughter highlighted how many rural communities depend on reserve deputies who serve in other roles or full-time jobs such as farming and ranching that volunteer to serve their communities, noting they should be compensated for their work.

"I would like to thank Governor Gianforte for signing this important bill, which will strengthen public safety across Montana communities, both large and small, at an affordable cost," Sheriff Slaughter said. "For Cascade County, this legislation is especially critical - we will be able to utilize paid reserves to help protect our children and our schools. This is a big step forward for keeping our communities safe. God bless."

A video of Gov. Gianforte's visit to Pondera County can be viewed here. A video of Gov. Gianforte's visit to Teton County can be viewed here. A video of Gov. Gianforte's visit to Cascade County can be viewed here.

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