Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Montana)
Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.
This article contains coverage of eight kinds of state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The article tracks developments in these areas that took place between the start of the pandemic in March 2020 through Dec. 4, 2020. The government responses covered here include:
- Changes to election dates and procedures in 2020
- Initial stay-at-home orders
- Executive orders
- Coronavirus-related legislation in 2020
- Changes to the state's 2020 legislative session
- Court closures
- The release of inmates
- Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies
Additionally, the article includes:
- Arguments related to the state's response to the coronavirus
- Individual industries and activities from May 15 through July 31
- The state's initial plan to reopen from March and April 2020 closures
- Coronavirus resources relevant to the state.
To view current coverage areas, including mask requirements, school responses, travel restrictions, and much more, click a state in the map below.
Changes to election dates and procedures, March 16 through November 19
General election changes
Montana modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Counties were authorized to conduct the general election entirely by mail.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Primary election changes
Montana modified its primary election process as follows:
- Voting procedures: Counties were authorized to conduct the primary election entirely by mail.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Click the gray bar below for more detailed information.
Statewide stay-at-home order, March 23 through December 4
On March 26, Gov. Steve Bullock (D) issued an executive order that directed individuals in Montana to stay home except for essential activities and closed nonessential businesses in the state.[7] The stay-at-home order took effect March 28 and was set to last until April 10. The order was later extended to April 26. On April 22, Bullock announced he would not extend the order beyond the April 26 expiration date.[8]
The order contains a list of all services that are considered essential on pages 5-8. The executive order is embedded below.
Executive orders, March 30 through June 29
- State of Emergency declared
- Executive Order 3-2020 Amending Executive Order 2-2020 and Providing that the State of Emergency Runs Concurrent with the President’s Emergency Declaration
- Directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing for measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing for measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 via food and beverage services or casinos
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing for measures to ease the procurement of medical supplies and hospital space and to ease the transfer of patients with COVID-19 to appropriate medical facilities
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 providing measures for the operation of local government
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 extending closures and updating social distancing requirements and guidance
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing for measures to implement the 2020 June primary election safely
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 providing measures to stay at home and designating certain essential functions
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing for relief of certain regulatory requirements
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing mandatory quarantine for certain travelers arriving in Montana from another state or country
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing measures to allow loans to medical and health facilities for operating expenses
- Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 designating childcare an Essential Business and Operation and Activity and imposing requirements for operation
- Directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and suspending certain requirements pertaining to online and mail-in driver’s licenses renewals
- Directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 related to state correctional and state-contracted correctional facilities
- Directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing for certain notifications to emergency services providers
- Directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and suspending certain requirements related to local receipt of emergency relief funds
- Directive providing that certain magical creatures may travel throughout Montana to perform essential services
- • Directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing additional guidance related to evictions and establishing relief funds for affected renters
Court closures, March 17 through November 4
- April 27, 2020: Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath issued a memo which directed courts to implement practices after May 4, when restrictions on in-person proceedings were expected to be lifted, to limit the spread of coronavirus. Practices included the continued practice of hearing most cases remotely through video or phone conference and social distancing.[9]
- April 22, 2020: The Montana Supreme Court extended restrictions on in-person proceedings and suspension of jury trials through May 4. Prior to the order, restrictions were set to expire April 30.[10]
- March 13, 2020: The Montana Supreme Court ordered courts across the state to delay jury trials through April 30 and release high-risk individuals from jury duty.[11]
Legislative session changes, March 20 through October 1
No modifications to state legislative activity in Montana were made.
Proposed and enacted legislation, March 25 through August 19
See below for a complete list of bills related to the coronavirus pandemic in Montana. To learn more about a particular bill, click its title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.
Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies, April 9 through November 24
- May 24, 2020: Montana's evictions and foreclosures suspension ended, except for vulnerable populations. Beginning June 1, vulnerable individuals had to demonstrate to their landlords that they continued to shelter in place and had been financially impacted by the pandemic.[12]
- May 19, 2020: Gov. Steve Bullock extended the suspension of evictions and foreclosures through May 24.[13]
- March 31, 2020: Gov. Steve Bullock announced consumer protections due to coronavirus, and suspended evictions and foreclosures in the state through April 24.[14]
Prison inmate release responses, March 30 through July 1
- Between March 30 and July 1, Montana did not make an announcement concerning the release of incarcerated individuals due to coronavirus on a state level.
Ballotpedia is covering the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Montana in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Click on the links below to read more about these debates.
- Debate over the stay-at-home order
- Debate over school closures
- Debate over religious service restrictions
- Debate over election policy
- Debate over essential and non-essential businesses
Status of industries, May 15 through July 31
Between May 15 and July 31, we conducted detailed tracking of industries and activities in each state daily.
- "Yes" means an activity was allowed or an industry was permitted to open. "No" means an activity was not allowed or an industry was not permitted to reopen.
- Some rules were applied regionally rather than statewide. Each cell shows the loosest restriction in place at the time, or the broadest level of an activity permitted in the state, even if that activity was only permitted regionally. Where applicable, we indicated that an activity was only permitted regionally, and provided details in a cell note. For example, if gyms were permitted to open in half of a state, the spreadsheet would say "Yes (regionally)," and differences between the regions would be explained in a note.
- A lack of detail in a note or parentheses does not necessarily mean that an activity or industry was "back to normal." We did our best to capture caveats, exceptions, and modifications to activities. We acknowledge, though, that states put forth a large number of requirements for many industries and activities.
Initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures
Montana released an initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures on April 22, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on May 7. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.
Summary from Documenting America's Path to Recovery
On April 22, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) issued a directive providing for the phased reopening of the state. In the directive, Bullock extended the stay-at-home order for individuals to April 26 and businesses to April 27. The expiration of the stay-at-home order marked the beginning of the first phase of the three-phase reopening. Bullock's order has three phases, but no specific timelines for their duration. Instead, each phase "will be regularly evaluated in close consultation with public health and emergency management professionals." Bullock said the following factors would help determine when the state moves to the next phase:
- "Ability for public health professionals to monitor new cases adequately and conduct contact tracing."
- "Hospitals must maintain the ability to treat all patients safely, both COVID-19 patients and those with other health conditions."
- "Montana must maintain its ability to screen and test all people with COVID-19 symptoms and maintain sufficient levels of personal protective equipment."
If these criteria can't be met, the state will revert to the previous restrictions or other mitigation measures. Bullock said the following orders remain in effect:
- Mandatory quarantine for certain travelers arriving in Montana remains in effect until modified or rescinded by a subsequent order.
- Limits on foreclosures, evictions, and service disconnections will continue through May 24, subject to modification by subsequent directives.
Context
- Bullock issued the original stay-at-home order on March 26. It was set to expire on April 10, but he extended it through April 24. On April 22, Bullock extended the order through April 26 for individuals and April 27 for non-essential businesses permitted to reopen on that date.
- As of May 6, there had been 456 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Montana and 16 fatalities. A total of 19,704 tests had been administered, amounting to a positive test rate of 2.3%. As of July 2019, Montana's estimated population was 1.1 million. Per 100,000 residents, there have been 42.7 confirmed positives, 1.5 confirmed deaths, and 1,843.7 total tests.
- Montana has a divided government, with a Democratic governor and Republican majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.
Plan details
Phase 1 guidelines (in progress) Individuals:
- Although individuals are not required to remain in their homes, it is recommended that residents continue to minimize non-essential travel, particularly if they qualify as vulnerable individuals.
- Vulnerable individuals are defined as "people over 65 years of age, people with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, or asthma, and people whose immune system is compromised."
- When in public, individuals should maintain six feet of distance from others.
- Individuals should avoid gatherings of more than 10 people if circumstances inhibit appropriate physical distancing.
Businesses:
- Guidelines for all businesses:
- Health screenings must be conducted for all employees at the beginning of each shift.
- Customers should be physically distanced when waiting in line.
- Waiting areas that cannot accommodate adequate physical distancing must be closed.
- Physical distancing of six feet must be maintained between customers.
- Businesses permitted to reopen or expand their operations on the following timetable, subject to reduced capacity and physical distancing guidelines:
- April 26: Places of worship.
- April 27: Retail businesses, personal care services, outdoor recreation sites; organized youth activities.
- May 4: Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos (at 50% capacity -- these businesses must close their doors and have all customers out by 11:30 p.m.).
- The following businesses must remain closed for the duration of Phase 1, which does not currently have a fixed end date:
- Gyms, pools, and hot tubs.
- Other places of assembly (e.g., movie theaters, performance venues, concert halls, bowling alleys, bingo halls, and music halls).
- Senior living and assisted living facilities must remain closed to visitors.
Phase 2 guidelines Individuals:
- Individuals should avoid gatherings of more than 50 people if circumstances inhibit appropriate physical distancing.
Businesses:
- In general, all the provisions established in Phase 1 continue to apply in Phase 2. The following additional provisions are set to take effect in Phase 2:
- Gyms, polls, and hot tubs can resume operations.
- Other places of assembly can resume operations, subject to gathering-size restrictions and physical distancing guidelines.
- The reduced capacity threshold for restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos increases from 50% to 75%.
Phase 3 guidelines In phase three, there are no limits on gatherings, and businesses can resume normal operations, subject to ongoing physical distancing guidelines. School provisions Beginning May 7, schools may resume in-person teaching at the discretion of local school boards. Local provisions Bullock's directive explicitly preempts less restrictive local ordinances. More restrictive local ordinances are presumably permitted. Guidance for individuals and employers in all phases The reopening plan lays out the following guidelines for individuals and employers in all phases. Individuals:
- Wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, refrain from touching your face, sneeze or cough into a tissue or the crook of your elbow.
- Regularly disinfect commonly used items or surfaces.
- "Strongly consider using non-medical face coverings while in public, especially in circumstances that do not readily allow for appropriate physical distancing."
- Individuals who do not feel well should stay home, seek medical advice, and adhere to isolation and quarantine guidelines established by their local health departments.
Employers:
- Develop and implement policies regarding the following:
- Social distancing and personal protective equipment
- Temperature checks and other health screening measures
- Testing, isolation, and contact tracing, in consultation with public health officials
- Sanitation
- Disinfection of common and/or high-traffic areas
- Employers should monitor their workers for symptoms and not allow symptomatic employees to work
Reactions
- Todd O'Hair, president of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, supported Bullock's reopening plan: "The Montana business community appreciates the Governor’s leadership over the course of the COVID19 pandemic. The Montana Chamber of Commerce supports a phased approach to re-opening our economy, while still maintaining health standards and containing the spread of COVID-19. Montana businesses are capable of being flexible and partnering with our colleagues and employees to address the challenges that this may pose, and are eager to open our doors once again."
- Dr. Marc Mentel, president of the Montana Medical Association, said: "Because of Montana’s aggressive approach of shutting everything down early in the pandemic, we are in the fortuitous position of having a very low viral burden in the state. With that being said, I feel assured that a cautious, vigilant, and step wise approach to opening up our healthcare, commerce, and education sectors could be attempted. Keep in mind that for every two steps forward we might need to take a step back, but it is in everyone’s best interest that we try."
- Vicky Byrd, CEO of the Montana Nurses Association, wrote in an April 28 op-ed that the state was moving forward on reopening too quickly: "We know that social distancing and good hand-washing is working but relaxing the stay-at-home order at this point could be counterproductive. The last thing we want is to open up too soon, see another spike in cases, and have to revert back to another stay-at-home order. The Montana response has had a positive result and our concern is if we open before important goals are met, our state will lose progress made and will be compromised."
- In the week before Bullock issued his reopening plan, state Republicans launched a social media campaign, STARTMontana ("Strategy To Activate a Real Transition"), urging him to loosen restrictions. The campaign is still active. In a May 1 post on the campaign's Facebook page, profile administrators said, "The governor still has Montana's small businesses under heavy restrictions - killing our economy. We are down to just 56 active cases, meaning 86% of people have recovered. Why does the governor refuse to #STARTMontana?"
- Whitney Williams, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, opposed the possible reopening of schools on May 7: "Reopening our schools should be a statewide decision — backed by science, not expediency. Shifting this decision to local school boards creates a patchwork approach across the state that’s not good for parents, for teachers or for anyone in our state. I believe it’s in the best interests of our children and the safety of our communities to keep schools closed in Montana through the end of this academic year and plan for a fall opening."
Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.
State resources
- Office of the Governor of Montana
- Montana Department of Health
- Montana Department of Public Instruction
Twitter feeds for government officials and agencies appear below.
Federal resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Education
- World Health Organization
See also
- Documenting America's Path to Recovery
- Montana’s path to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic
- School responses in Montana to the coronavirus pandemic
- School responses to the coronavirus pandemic by state
- COVID-19 vaccine distribution by state
- Travel restrictions by state
- Federal government responses to the coronavirus pandemic
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of the Governor of Montana, "Governor Bullock to Allow Counties the Choice to Conduct Mail Ballot Election and Expand Early Voting for November General Election," August 6, 2020
- ↑ Supreme Court of the State of Montana, "Stapleton v. Thirteenth Judicial District Court: Order," May 27, 2020
- ↑ Missoula Current, "Montana Supreme Court reinstates Election Day deadline for mail-in ballots," May 27, 2020
- ↑ U.S. News and World Report, "Montana Asks State Court to Overturn Mail Ballot Ruling," May 26, 2020
- ↑ Office of the Governor of Montana, "Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and providing for measures to implement the 2020 June primary election safely," March 25, 2020
- ↑ KTVH, "Looks like all MT counties will do all-mail ballots for June 2 primary," April 6, 2020
- ↑ at Home Directive.pdf?ver=2020-03-26-173332-177 Governor of Montana, "Re: Directive Implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 providing measures to stay at home and designating certain essential functions," accessed March 31, 2020
- ↑ KECI, "Bullock's stay-at-home order lifted Monday with restrictions," April 22, 2020
- ↑ Montana Supreme Court, "Memorandum," April 27, 2020
- ↑ Montana Supreme Court, "Memo from Chief Justice Mike McGrath," April 22, 2020
- ↑ Montana Free Press, "Montana Supreme Court urges trial delays as anti-coronavirus measure," March 13, 2020
- ↑ Montana Housing, "Montana Housing Guidance on COVID-19," May 28, 2020
- ↑ Office of the Governor State of Montana, "Directive implementing Executive Orders 2-2020 and 3-2020 and establishing conditions for Phase Two," May 19, 2020
- ↑ Montana.gov, "Montana Housing Guidance on COVID-19," March 31, 2020
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