In November 2025, the state announced the selection of Laurel for a forensic mental health facility. It was the end to a search imperiled by local pushback from officials in Billings after they learned their city was being eyed. So, search efforts then took the state to Big Horn, Custer and, somewhat quietly, Laurel.
And the search that started in Yellowstone County ultimately ended up only less than 20 miles from what would have likely been the state’s ideal choice of Billings and its ample workforce.
But the end of that search signaled a new challenge. Since the state’s announcement of the selection and its related buy-sell agreement, pushback from local residents is building, with the school board somewhat formally coming out against it before any annexation or zoning action has been proposed.
Read our latest coverage on the plan for a new mental health facility here:
The Yellowstone County Commission will set the date for a public hearing about the change during their weekly discussion meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 2.
“It’s Laurel or nowhere,” said an individual involved with the development of the mental health facility.
Eyed for a 114-acre plot west of town, the state agreed to purchase the land for $4.25 million. The government has until July 1 to back out for any reason.
Yet thus far, Laurel City Council and Laurel residents “have had no meaningful engagement with any state officials” around the mental health facility.
The state recently announced the selection of Laurel for a forensic mental health facility – a decision that has brought pushback from local residents and the school board.
“I’m not saying the facility is bad. I’m saying the facility located less than a mile of a school is not in the best interest of our students.”
Montana Board of Investments Executive Director Dan Villa announced the decision to purchase 114 acres at a Laurel City Council workshop meeting Tuesday night.
“This is your community. You deserve transparency from the state before the public learns of material development.”
Despite promises of bettered communications, Morse said he knows no more about what the facility will look like than he did in July.