Experienced
Committed
Advocate
I am running for re-election to continue to represent HD60 and see that your voice is heard in Helena. During the last session, I successfully helped pass a number of bills that directly impacted HD60 including:
Redefining the 1% resort tax for infrastructure to include workforce housing, which can be rented or owned by locals.
Creating the ability for Madison County residents in my district to create their own hospital and school districts so that their taxes are used for their own local needs.
Ensuring that there is dedicated, continued bridge and infrastructure funding, so that we can replace our old bridges and take care of our roads. This includes dedicated funding for wildlife over and underpasses, and wildlife connectivity.
Passing a bill that allows schools to bond and build on-site employee housing.
Ensuring that there is dedicated, continued funding for early education.
Increased funding for starting teacher salaries (STARS Act).
These were all bipartisan bills where we all worked across the aisle to get work done for the people of Montanan and the people in my district.
In the interim, I have met with local government, business and educational leaders to ensure that I will continue to tackle local needs in Helena. I am working with various legislators on bipartisan bills to address our needs, including wildfire insurance, increased funding for our Public Safety Radio, changing PILT (Federal Taxes paid to our county for the forest land) funding, creating more opportunities in our area for alternative energy sources and creating a new program at the state to help local governments and non-profit organizations to obtain Federal grants and funding.
Alanah’s Bio
I am an attorney, single mother, business owner, mediator and litigator who has a track record of passing practical solutions to the issues faced by my constituents. I was born in Big Sky and raised in Four Corners. My parents instilled in me the importance of serving my community as both of my parents have dedicated thousands of hours to our community over their lives. I am the coach of the Mock Trial Team in Big Sky and I have served on the boards of nonprofits like Reach and Morningstar Learning Center. I have also volunteered my time at Eagle Mount and the Gallatin Legal Assistance Clinic.
During the last session, I served on the Judiciary Committee, Agriculture Committee and the Federal Relations, Energy and Technology Committee. I was elected as Vice Chair of the Local Government Interim Committee by my legislative peers. I spent my time in Helena building bridges across the aisle and passing common sense bills that directly helped our district.
Re-electing me means putting my decades of experience as a trial attorney and mediator to work for you in Helena and continuing to allow me to build the relationships that are needed to make lasting changes that benefit you. I believe that together, we can find the common sense solutions to the real challenges facing our state today. Feel free to contact my with any thoughts, needs and concerns. I look forward to serving you again in Helena.
Alanah receiving an excellence award from the Montana Supreme Court for her work. Pictured with then Chief Justice Karla Gray.
Attainable Housing
Housing is a basic human need. However, many in our district cannot find secure housing and are spending far more than the recommended 30% of their income on housing. I have experienced this myself as my life situation recently required me to find a rental in my district, which was almost impossible. I have experienced insecurity as my landlord wants to sell or move back sometime in the near future. This personal knowledge means that I take finding logical solutions to attainable, secure housing very seriously. During the last session, I worked on and passed bills that will allow West Yellowstone and Big Sky to use their resort tax for workforce housing, allowed West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Gallatin Gateway and Anderson schools to build employee housing on their lands and targeted loosening regulations that substantially increased housing costs with little or no benefit. I am currently working on legislation that will increase the ability for locals to own housing and decrease construction costs.
Alanah working to raise funds for Morningstar Learning Center's building project which is planned to include housing for staff.
Keep Public Lands Public
Montana is lucky to have millions of acres of Federal and State public lands. I have spent my life enjoying the unparalleled hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing and camping these lands offer. However, there is a substantial move to make our public lands private, either by lack of proper funding, failure to fight to keep our trails open, land swaps with less accessible land or by passing legislation to sell public lands. I intimately understand these issues as I have fought in court to keep public access open for everyone. I have always voted to protect our public lands and access to those lands. I am proudly endorsed by Montana Conservation Voters, which is made up of Montanan that value our public lands.
Alanah and her son enjoying our stream access laws, fishing on Belt Creek, Monarch, MT.
Data Centers, Energy and the Public Service Commission
Data Centers are a hot topic in Montana. We are one of the only western states without a data center. There are a number of reasons for this, but one of the largest is that Montana simply does not produce enough energy to supply the needs of a data center. Large data centers need about 800 megawatts of energy. Northwestern Energy currently provides an average of 760 megawatts total, for all existing customers. Thus, one data center will double NWE’s production needs.
Last session, we passed one bill aimed at slowing down data centers so that we can thoughtfully address them next session. We placed approval of a data center’s energy needs under the Public Service Commission. (PSC) However, the current data center reviews in the PSC show that Montana desperately needs three things, data center regulations, improvement in our transmission lines and energy infrastructure and a restructured PSC.
Data Centers
Montana clearly needs more regulations in place to regulate data centers. We are working on bipartisan legislation that is looking at the following issues:
- Long-term protections for surface and ground water, senior water rights, municipal system and existing residents and businesses in the area. This may require a closed loop system, recycled water and requirements that water costs cannot be shifted to local residents and businesses.
- Existing electricity customers must be held harmless from increased costs which will require complete transparency from the data centers and electrical providers.
- Require clean energy.
- Regulations mitigating noise and minimizing vibrations, Dark Sky requirements for lighting and minimizing visual impacts.
Energy Infrastructure
Montanan’s energy infrastructure is not prepared to meet any increased power needs. The last successful transmission line to be built was the Montana Alberta Tie Line in 2013. As one of the attorneys involved in that project (co-counsel for the ranchers and farmers upon whose land the line was built), I have real world experience that will help shape legislation that will protect our landowners, but ease the way for new transmission lines, which Montana needs. I will also work on passing Senator Pope’s community solar bill (passed last session, but vetoed by the governor) and legislation aimed at harnessing our wind energy (Montana’s wind is described as “gold” by wind energy experts.)
PSC
I have litigated before the PSC and greatly respect the work that they do. The PSC regulates all private investor-owned natural gas, electric, telephone, water and private sewer companies doing business in Montana. They also regulate certain types of transportation and garbage hauling companies. This includes ensuring that these companies are providing affordable rates to their customers. Unfortunately, over the years, this area of regulation has become more complicated, requiring a high level of expertise in the fields of utility regulation. However, there are no requirements that any of the Commissioners have any type of expertise. Most do not have any, except on the job experience. I am working on a bi-partisan bill that will completely reshape the PSC, including certain requirements to be a commissioner and to have the commission appointed by a Board made up of elected officials and Montanans.
Endorsed by
Brian Gallik's Endorsement
Voters in House District 60, Four Corners to West Yellowstone, might think Alanah Griffith, a lawyer, has little to do with small businesses. Not so. In her years as an attorney in the district she’s worked with and helped many small businesses throughout Gallatin County. She knows small businesses are the backbone of the economy.
Griffith has helped form small businesses, helped them stay out of litigation by understanding Montana law and has worked with opposing parties to find practical solutions out of court, a win-win strategy for all concerned. This includes small businesses in West Yellowstone where her ability to find solutions has time and again enabled her client to avoid expensive litigation.
Voters in HD60, like most in Montana, are tired of division and of politicians who polarize voters, and pit neighbor against neighbor. Electing representatives who work to pull people together to find commonsense solutions is something we can all agree upon. Griffith has done that her entire career. I am confident she will continue to do the same in Helena as the representative for HD60.
Help me elect Alanah Griffith in November.
Jim and Diane Cashell's Endorsement
House District 60 needs a representative from Gallatin County that reflects Montana. Alanah Griffith is that Candidate. A product of local schools, a family that understands community, loyalty and Montana. Alanah knows the value of relationships and compromise in government. Alanah will provide the Leadership and representation that Montana Needs.
Dorothy Bradley's Endorsement
I hope you will support Alanah Griffith, Democrat for the Montana House, in HD 60.
I’ve known Alanah since she was a law clerk for Judge Mark Guenther in the early 2000s, and I was the court administrator. Alanah is smart, studious, energetic, and has a heart of gold.
We bonded tight as a knot, partly from our mutual commitment to make the judicial and criminal justice system as compassionate, efficient and modern as possible — and partly because we had to carry on during the tragic illness of Judge Guenther. Alanah was essential in keeping that office on the rails, assisting some two dozen judges who came to share the workload, and was honored by the Supreme Court for the staff’s excellent job.
Her private practice has been broad and successful. I particularly appreciate her commitment to mediation which will be a bonus in the political arena.
Alanah volunteers for any number of efforts to make the world a better place — particularly the legal world and the world of disadvantaged people.
I appreciate Alanah’s commitment to put her energy and knowledge into Montana politics. She could be doing more fun things, but from my perspective of 16 years in the Legislature, nothing more worthy.
Dorothy Bradley
Letter to the editor: Griffith the right choice for House District 60 - Winnie Arthurs
The voters of HD 60 now have a chance to elect someone who actually lives in the district, Alanah Griffith. She grew up there. Many of her clients, from individuals to homeowner associations, are in HD 60. She knows the people who live there, many of them personally. She knows their concerns, their challenges, needs and worries. She can represent the citizens of the district in the way that a representative should.
