Op Eds

Montanans are about to face another steep increase in health insurance premiums — some plans may see costs rise by more than 20%. This increase will hit our small businesses, working families, and self-employed ranchers. In short, the people who need affordable health care most. The primary culprit is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a … Read more

June 15 marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day — an opportunity for communities across Montana and the nation to shine a light on elder abuse and neglect. As Montana state auditor, I take financial exploitation of seniors seriously — and the numbers show why. Behind every statistic is a name, a face and a story. … Read more

By Montana State Auditor James Brown Montanans are facing a new reality: skyrocketing homeowners’ insurance premiums and an escalating wildfire threat. According to the National Association of Realtors, Montana may experience the fifth-highest state increase in homeowners’ insurance rates this year — a trend impacting residents statewide. Two major forces are driving higher costs. First, … Read more

The Montana State Auditor’s office is dedicated to both educating Montanans and protecting them from financial scams and investment fraud. We take this responsibility seriously, as financial abuse, particularly in investments, continues to grow. In March, the FTC reported that Americans lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a staggering 25% increase from … Read more

An Opinion Editorial by Commissioner Troy Downing Bail bonds are integral to the criminal justice system – they allow those charged with crimes freedom to work on their defense and deal with their personal lives and obligations prior to trial. Bail bond agents are responsible for ensuring a person shows up to court. If the … Read more

An Opinion Editorial by Commissioner Troy Downing In response to John Looney’s May 26 Opinion Editorial regarding House Bill 62: The CSI appreciates all the collaboration and input we received from industry, law enforcement, and stakeholders when drafting House Bill 62. The intent of HB62 was to put reasonable sideboards on fugitive recovery agents − … Read more

An Opinion Editorial by Commissioner Troy Downing    As the Montana Insurance Commissioner, I am often asked about high premiums in certain lines of insurance. One example is rising premiums in wildfire risk areas. This makes intuitive sense − if the risk of fire and loss is higher, the premium increases to ensure the insurance … Read more

My team and I were on the ground in eastern Montana helping families work with their insurance companies to rebuild immediately following the devastating flooding of 2022. Meeting at the civic center in Red Lodge with hundreds of Montanans, we learned the true extent of the damage and devastation families faced. As we drove down … Read more