MEIC’s Anne Hedges describes the most important bills of the session at the Missoula Legislative Roadshow. Photo by Katy Spence.
By Shannon James
The federal government is in disarray, making it more critical than ever to hold the line at the state level. The power of grassroots action is undeniable, and story-telling plays a key role in shaping policies that impact our communities. When individuals share personal stories about how proposed legislation affects their families and neighborhoods, they provide compelling testimony that lawmakers find hard to ignore.
MEIC’s Nick Fitzmaurice speaks at Climate Advocacy Day in January. Photo by Anne Hedges.
Movement building is not just about winning every battle – it’s about persistence and taking action together. Thousands of Montanans have already stepped up to make their voices heard. MEIC supporters have been especially persistent this legislative session, with over 50,000 actions taken through our action center in just the first half of the session.
State-level action is more important than ever, particularly as the federal government continues to dismantle key protections. Holding state legislators accountable is crucial to protecting Montana’s environment, economy, and communities.
Fortunately, our elected officials hear constituents even when they don’t want to – our voices matter, and change often requires ideas to be repeated multiple times before they truly resonate.
MEIC’s Anne Hedges and board member Steve Martinez at the Kalispell Legislative Roadshow. Photo by Denise Roth Barber.
One shining example of this grassroots momentum was the 2025 Climate Advocacy Day, where more than 350 Montanans from all walks of life gathered at the State Capitol to demand climate action. This year’s turnout surpassed the inaugural 2023 event, reflecting the growing support for policies that transition Montana away from polluting fossil fuels and toward renewable energy solutions. The event showcased the power of collective action, bringing together farmers, teachers, small business owners, Tribal leaders, and young people committed to a sustainable future.
Sometimes, we must lose loudly to make real progress. MEIC worked on two proactive bills regarding the opencut (gravel mining) law that was gutted in 2021. SB 460 (Sen. Pat Flowers, D-Bozeman) sought to reinstate consideration for water quality and quantity in gravel pit permitting. SB 391 (Sen. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula) aimed to reinstate commonsense public participation into the opencut law. Both hearings were scheduled with little notice, but motivated Montanans who have experienced the impacts of a gravel pit near their home quickly organized and showed up to provide powerful testimony in support. Unfortunately, both of these bills were tabled, but these dedicated Montanans will be more motivated than ever to show up again and again.
MEIC’s Nick Fitzmaurice and Derf Johnson talk to the crowd at the Bozeman Legislative Roadshow. Photo by Denise Roth Barber.
Even advocacy on an individual level matters. Take, for example, a young wind turbine technician who came to Helena for a Saturday hearing scheduled for 10 am, and ended up staying until the hearing actually started closer to 1 pm. His testimony was key in demonstrating to legislators that these bills have real consequences for working Montanans and that maybe they don’t always have all the facts when a fellow legislator introduces a bill.
The message is clear: sustained engagement at the state level can drive meaningful change. Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint, and the dedication of an engaged public is what drives long-term change. If we continue to show up, speak out, and hold our leaders accountable beyond the session, we can protect Montana’s future and build a movement that lasts.
This article was published in the March 2025 issue of Down To Earth.
