The city of Laurel and the Highway 212 bridge crossing the Yellowstone River (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan).

During the holiday weekend, the Montana Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to construct a new behavioral health facility near Laurel.

During the 2025 legislative session, a long-range planning bill set aside $26.5 million for the 32-bed forensic mental health facility.

“We are grateful to the City of Laurel and its leaders for their interest in partnering with the state on a new behavioral health facility,” DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said in a statement. “Laurel provides access to a critical health care workforce and infrastructure necessary to ensure the facility’s success. Furthermore, Laurel’s geographic location is ideally situated

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