There is a larger reason why House Speaker Austin Knudsen (R) of Culbertson and the Montana Republicans killed HB 295, a bill by Tom Jacobson (D-Great Falls) to protect public access to public lands by increasing fines for gating public roads and other public rights of way. 

The family of Speaker Knudsen is currently blocking a road to Legion Park in Culbertson and are locked in a court battle to keep it that way. Speaker Knudsen would personally benefit from this bill not passing and he needs to answer for Republicans killing this pro-public access bill.

(Photo by The Searchlight)