Legislature closing access to behind-the-scenes bill influences

The Montana Legislature is preparing to close the door on public access to communications between lawmakers, lobbyists and stakeholders concerning draft bills.

Legislative staff informed lawmakers this week that the communications, previously available to the public and frequently examined by journalists, no longer needed to be made publicly available, based on a District Court ruling concerning a Republican lawmaker’s communications about a bill that redrew Montana’s Public Service Commission districts.

In June, state Sen. Keith Regier successfully fought off a request for the behind-the-scen...