Lawmakers tackle budget, missing persons and firefighter insurance

Taxes, Rainy Day Fund On Tap for Budget Talks

While budget projections appear more secure than they were in the 2017 legislative session, long-standing rifts, particularly concerning taxes, still make the state’s two-year budget a hot topic this session.

Unlike the previous session, the Legislative Fiscal Division and the Governor’s Office have fairly close revenue estimates -- about $10 billion over two years. Gov. Steve Bullock called a special session two years ago when a historic fire season and inaccurate revenue projections led to deep cuts for several agencies, including the Department...