MONTANA PUSHBACK

During the 2023 legislative session, Montana Conservation Voters (MCV) will defend our freedom to access our public lands as well as protect our right to clean air and clean water. 

One of MCV’s top priorities is protecting our Montana Constitution. In 1972, delegates to Montana’s Constitutional Convention enshrined a right to a “clean and healthful environment” in our state Constitution. For 50 years the Montana Constitution has protected our environment and public lands but now that’s under threat. Powerful interests want to rip up our Constitution, threatening our freedom. In fact, an anti-conservation legislator has already introduced a constitutional amendment targeting our right to a clean and healthful environment. This threat is real and MCV opposes all irresponsible efforts to strip this provision from the Montana Constitution. 

On top of threats to our constitution,  Governor Greg Gianforte’s draft budget proposes eliminating voter-approved funding for our public lands generated through the sale of recreational marijuana. When Montana voters initially approved recreational marijuana on the ballot in 2020, they voted for a portion of the revenue to support conservation programs. 

Now dubbed the “Montana Outdoor Fund,” the funding is intended to unlock access to our public lands through Habitat Montana, support state parks and trails and protect working lands. And the fund is popular with Montanans — a recent University of Montana poll found that 82% percent want to keep using recreational marijuana revenue to protect our public lands. Thankfully the Governor’s proposed budget is not final and we’ll be working with you, our partners and the legislature to stand with Montana voters and restore the Montana Outdoor Fund in the final budget.

Join us as we push back against out-of-touch politicians who threaten our public lands and outdoor way of life and celebrate those who protect what makes the Big Sky State so great.