Southwest Montana News

Governor Greg Gianforte visited Billings, Montana, to engage with law enforcement officials, local leaders, treatment providers, and nonprofit organization leaders in a roundtable discussion on public safety. This meeting marks one year since the governor began similar discussions across the state.

During the event, Governor Gianforte declared January 11, 2023, as Human Trafficking Awareness Day and January 2023 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Montana. "Addressing the drug and mental health epidemic we face in Montana will take investments," said Governor Gianforte. He emphasized that his budget prioritizes building safer communities through critical investments.

The governor has been focused on increasing access to recovery and treatment programs while addressing crime related to drugs entering Montana through the southern border and pandemic-triggered rises in crime. "For non-violent offenders, our focus is treatment," he stated.

Governor Gianforte introduced the HEART Fund (Healing and Ending Addiction through Recovery and Treatment) early in his tenure to expand community-based treatment services for non-violent offenders. His budget increases funding for this initiative by 50%, supporting a comprehensive range of behavioral health and substance use disorder treatments.

The budget also ensures permanent funding for eight treatment courts losing federal support. Coralee Schmitz from Rimrock highlighted their effectiveness: “Treatment courts work, and the high success rates are demonstrative of the work that goes into these courts by the clients and the partners.”

Discussions also addressed improving outcomes for children in foster care. The governor’s budget includes a $5,000 adoption tax credit per child adopted within Montana, rising to $7,500 if both adoption and residency occur within the state.

Efforts to combat crime were also discussed. "Violent criminals must be held accountable," stated Governor Gianforte. His budget allocates resources to increase law enforcement capacity against human traffickers and other criminals.

Collaboration with Attorney General Austin Knudsen has resulted in funding for additional highway patrol troopers, criminal investigators, and prosecutors focusing on drug trafficking, human trafficking, narcotics, major crimes, and crimes against children.

“As we heard today,” said Governor Gianforte regarding human trafficking's rise in Montana and nationwide efforts to address it with urgency alongside Attorney General Knudsen's leadership.