Remove FWP requirement to regulate wolves as furbearers or game animals
HB 554 changes how the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) manages wolves after they are removed from endangered species lists. It removes a previous requirement that mandated FWP to classify and regulate wolves as either game animals or furbearers. Under the amended law, the Fish and Wildlife Commission now has the discretion to declare wolves as game animals or furbearers, allowing for regulated hunting or trapping, but it is no longer a mandatory classification. The bill also retains provisions for controlling wolves to protect livestock, consistent with an approved wolf management plan.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 18, 2025
Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB0554_X(2).pdf
→
HB0554_X(3).pdf
·
1 edit
MINOR
The bill text shows minor formatting adjustments to the title and footer sections, specifically the removal of extra blank lines and the standardization of capitalization for the section amendment description. These changes do not alter the substantive policy, scope, or legal requirements of the legislation.
TECHNICAL
Removed unnecessary blank lines from the document footer and standardized the capitalization of the phrase 'AMENDING SECTION 87-5-131, MCA' to match the rest of the title.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2025 · House Mar 6, 2025
How they voted
29–21
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 15, 2025
D
Democratic18
100% Nay
R
Republican32
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
40
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (29-21)
senate
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Mar 6, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (57-42-1)
house
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Brandon Ler
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 554
Scope: MT
Hi! I can help you understand HB 554. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline