Environment (Wildlife)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 30, 2025

LC 1062: Generally revise Smith River permit laws

This bill revises Montana's Smith River permit laws by clarifying how user fees collected from recreational and commercial floaters are allocated and spent. It establishes a specific fund called the Smith River corridor enhancement account where designated portions of fees from commercial outfitters, permit lottery sales, and bonus points must be deposited. These funds are restricted to projects that protect the river's natural beauty, restore fisheries and wildlife habitat, stabilize streambanks, and maintain water flows for recreation and ecosystems. All other remaining funds in the account can be used for general management, operation, and maintenance of the Smith River corridor. The changes apply immediately upon the bill's passage and approval.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes dedicated funding for river protection, habitat restoration, and natural beauty preservation through user fees.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 14, 2025

LC 3165: Generally revise laws related to the unlawful use of aircraft for hunting

This bill amends Montana's wildlife laws to strengthen restrictions on using aircraft for hunting purposes. It directly affects hunters and aircraft operators by prohibiting the use of planes or drones to locate, pursue, or hunt game animals, and it bans possessing unmanned aerial vehicles while hunting. Key provisions extend the waiting period after aircraft use to 48 hours before hunting, ban communicating animal locations from the air to ground hunters, and increase fines and license forfeiture penalties for violations. The law includes exceptions for emergency situations, search and rescue operations, and authorized predator control activities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens wildlife conservation by restricting aircraft use in hunting, protecting game populations and natural habitats from increased hunting pressure.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 2406: Revise river usage laws related to commercial fishing, outfitting, and guiding

This bill directs Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to create specific days each summer when commercial fishing, guiding, and outfitting are prohibited on designated stretches of eight major rivers. The affected rivers include the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Big Blackfoot, Madison, Yellowstone, and Flathead, with rules requiring at least one commercial-free day per week to include Saturday. The department must establish the exact river segments and specific free days by May 15, 2026, ensuring each zone is long enough for a typical recreational float. This measure aims to reduce overcrowding on popular Montana rivers while maintaining opportunities for commercial operators on other days.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes commercial fishing-free days on major rivers to protect aquatic ecosystems and reduce commercial pressure on fish populations.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 20, 2025

LC 2103: Establish FWP wildlife highway crossings and accommodation account

This bill creates a dedicated funding account in Montana to support the design, construction, and maintenance of wildlife highway crossings and accommodations. It authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Commission to launch a specialty license plate program that generates $20 per plate to fund these projects. The account can be used for building underpasses and overpasses, conducting studies, and reimbursing the Department of Transportation for eligible wildlife crossing projects. Money in the account earns interest and remains available for future use, ensuring ongoing support for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and protecting wildlife movement across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated funding account for wildlife crossings through specialty license plates, increasing state funding for conservation infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds wildlife highway crossings to protect biodiversity and reduce animal-vehicle collisions, directly supporting environmental conservation.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates dedicated funding for wildlife highway crossings, directly supporting transportation infrastructure and road safety through underpasses and overpasses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 10, 2024

LC 413: Revise FWP crimestoppers program to allow financial rewards and reward permits

This bill amends Montana law to allow the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to offer financial rewards and reward permits to the public as part of its Crimestoppers program. The changes enable the department to provide monetary incentives to citizens who provide information that helps detect and prosecute crimes related to fish, wildlife, and parks. By adding these specific options, the program can more actively encourage public cooperation in reporting illegal activities without requiring new funding sources. The amendment updates the relevant statute to explicitly authorize these reward mechanisms alongside existing program functions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances public cooperation in crime reporting through financial incentives, strengthening law enforcement capabilities in wildlife crime prosecution75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by enabling public cooperation to report wildlife crimes, helping conserve natural resources and enforce conservation laws.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 9, 2025

LC 2550: Require fish, wildlife, and parks to publish a report detailing data on hunting districts

This bill requires Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to publish an annual public report containing data on hunting districts for elk, deer, and antelope. The report will include information on population numbers and management activities based on habitat estimates and population goals established in existing state law. This change directly affects hunters, landowners, and the general public by increasing transparency around wildlife management decisions. The bill amends existing state code to mandate this reporting requirement without altering other departmental powers or responsibilities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases transparency in wildlife management, promoting conservation of natural resources and habitat through data reporting on elk, deer, and antelope populations.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 1302: Create auction or lottery licenses for antelope and swans

This bill allows Montana's wildlife commission to sell licenses for antelope and swans through either a competitive auction or a lottery system. The legislation permits wildlife conservation organizations focused on these species to conduct the sales if authorized, allowing them to keep up to 10% of proceeds to cover expenses. All remaining funds from these sales must be used by the state department to benefit antelope and migratory game bird management programs, separate from existing funding sources. The bill also gives the commission authority to create rules governing how these licenses are issued and how the auctions or lotteries are conducted.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds wildlife conservation programs for antelope and migratory game birds, supporting environmental protection and natural resource management.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 18, 2025

LC 3715: Provide funding for grizzly bear management

This bill allocates $210,000 from the general license account to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to hire two full-time bear technicians for Region 3, which covers southwest Montana. The funding is intended to help the agency manage conflicts between expanding grizzly bear populations and increasing human development in the area. The money will supplement existing base funding and is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2025, with the legislature planning for the 2027 appropriation to become part of future base funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $210,000 from general license account to fund grizzly bear management and hire bear technicians, directly supporting state wildlife management programs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates funding for grizzly bear management and conservation, directly supporting wildlife protection and environmental preservation efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 4189: Generally revise laws related to the unlawful harassment of wild animals

This bill amends Montana laws to strengthen penalties for using vehicles or devices to harass, harm, or kill wild animals such as game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, and predatory animals. It prohibits activities like chasing, flushing, or tormenting these animals with motorized vehicles, aircraft, or snow machines, while allowing exceptions for landowners protecting property and individuals following lawful hunting or wildlife management practices. The legislation increases fines and potential prison time for violations, with harsher penalties for repeat offenses, and mandates the forfeiture of hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses for a set period depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens penalties for unlawful harassment of wild animals, enhancing criminal justice enforcement and protection of wildlife through increased fines and stricter regulations.75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens penalties for harassing wild animals and protects wildlife populations, directly supporting environmental conservation and natural resource protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 306: Generally revise laws related to the department of commerce

This bill updates Montana's Department of Commerce laws to clarify how lodging facility use tax revenue is collected and distributed across various state programs. It establishes specific percentages of tax proceeds that must be allocated to agencies including the Montana Historical Society, University System, Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks, and regional tourism corporations to support historical preservation, travel research, park maintenance, and tourism marketing. The legislation also expands the Emergency Lodging for Victims of Domestic Violence or Human Trafficking program by making it permanent and increasing its funding share from the tax revenue. Additionally, it creates conditions where funds may be redirected to nonprofit convention and visitors bureaus in certain areas or used for state tourism promotion if regional tourism corporations fail to submit approved marketing plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill clarifies lodging facility use tax revenue collection and distribution to fund state programs including historical preservation, university research, parks maintenance, and tourism marketing.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates funds to Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks for park maintenance, supporting environmental conservation and natural resource protection.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax Conservation Parks & Recreation Wildlife

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