HB 95 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise law related to damage-based muskrat and beaver harvesting

HB 95 amends Montana law to allow landowners or employees to trap muskrats or beavers causing severe damage to rural or urban developed structures without a permit during the closed season (outside June 1-August 31), expanding the existing exception for irrigation projects and stock ponds. It directly affects property owners and managers of residential, commercial, or municipal structures facing damage from these animals. The key provision adds "rural or urban developed structures" to the list of protected properties eligible for damage-based trapping, while maintaining the June 1-August 31 permit-free period. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Dec 16, 2024 Signed Apr 3, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0095_X(3).pdf HB0095_X(4).pdf · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill has reached its final version and is ready for enactment. The primary change is the addition of an 'END' marker, which signifies the conclusion of the document, along with the removal of empty lines that were present in the previous draft.
TECHNICAL

Removed empty lines at the end of the document.

Added an 'END' marker to indicate the official conclusion of the legislative text.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2025 · House Jan 14, 2025

How they voted

454
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Mar 17, 2025
D Democratic18
13 Yea 4 Nay 1
72% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 3, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (45-4-1)
senate
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Jan 14, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (83-15-2)
house
Jan 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Dec 20, 2024
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Dec 16, 2024
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Paul Fielder
Paul Fielder
RRepublican
MT
14