Dozens of Laurel residents turned out April 22 for a pair of state-hosted listening sessions on a proposed 32-bed forensic psychiatric facility planned for their community — and by most accounts, they left angrier than when they arrived. The three-hour-plus session drew speakers who uniformly opposed the proposed site, with not a single resident speaking in favor of the facility.

Many residents said they had been promised a meeting with public officials who could answer their questions. Instead, they were greeted by two state attorneys — one representing the Montana Board of Investments, one representing the Department of Public Health and Human Services — whose stated role was only to listen and record comments. Residents called out Gov. Greg Gianforte and Board of Investment Director Dan Villa by name, saying neither had shown up ready to discuss specifics. Multiple speakers expressed sympathy for the attorneys who had to face the crowd.

Residents who had already spoken got back in line to speak again before the session ended, voicing what they described as a pattern of broken promises from state officials regarding the project. The state has not announced a revised timeline or next steps for community engagement following the sessions.