Wednesday, February 10, Governor Gianforte signed the highly anticipated SB-65. This Friday he will issue a directive ending the mask mandate. (Courtesy photo)
Wednesday afternoon, Governor Greg Gianforte held his first bill signing ceremony. He signed into law SB-65 which shields businesses, health care providers, nonprofit organizations, and places of worship from COVID-19 lawsuits. In signing the law, Gianforte moved forward as he had promised to do to lift the statewide mask mandate. He announced that as of Friday morning he will issue a directive that would end the mandate. There will probably remain local mandates in some areas of the state that will still require wearing masks. Joining Gianforte in the ceremony were Senate President Mark Blasdel (SD-4), Speaker of the House Wylie Galt (HD-30); Senator Steve Fitzpatrick (SD-10), Chair of the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee; and Representative Mark Noland (HD-10), Chair of the House Business and Labor Committee.
