2026 Status of Montana Women Report

Advancing Policy for Economic Equity

The 2026 Status of Montana Women Report highlights the hard-earned progress Montana women have made, detailing the tangible improvements resulting from policies such as expanded Medicaid and the establishment of a constitutional right to abortion and reproductive health care. It also takes a candid look at the barriers women face as they shape our state’s future, showing through compelling data that while we’ve made real progress, the work isn’t done. With support from the Women’s Foundation of Montana, the Montana Budget & Policy Center has once again documented the state’s persistent wage and wealth gaps and the undervaluing of caregiving work, which is predominantly performed by women. The report also shows how women of color and 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual) women face compounding barriers. The report illustrates how even previous advancements, such as expanded Medicaid, can be rolled back. Recent efforts to redetermine eligibility for enrollees have resulted in more women losing health insurance coverage.