Rep. Eric Albus

Maddy summaryHB 450 revises laws pertaining to Class D-5 licenses, which are required for individuals training bird hunting dogs using game birds not raised in captivity. The bill mandates that applicants for a Class D-5 license must report the number of dogs they plan to train, and this information will be printed on their license. Additionally, it grants the Fish and Wildlife Commission the authority to establish rules that limit the total number of Class D-5 licenses issued. This legislation updates licensing requirements for bird dog trainers and provides the commission with regulatory control over these specific training licenses.

Maddy summaryHB 106 requires all shooting preserves to be located entirely on private property, replacing prior location restrictions. It increases the annual license fee from $100 to $250 and removes limits on how many birds operators must release or harvest each year. The bill also mandates that operators report all game harvests using state-provided forms and repeals the previous requirement for quantity restrictions on game harvests (Section 87-4-523). These changes directly affect shooting preserve operators by altering land use rules, fees, and reporting obligations. The law takes immediate effect upon the governor's signature.

Maddy summaryHB 107 revises licensing and recordkeeping requirements for businesses handling wildlife in Montana, directly affecting taxidermists, fur dealers, fur farm operators, and owners of exotic wildlife facilities (menageries, sanctuaries, zoos). Key provisions include setting an annual $50 taxidermist license fee (expiring February 28), requiring fur dealers to maintain detailed transaction records for 5 years, establishing a $85 fur farm license fee, and mandating specific permit applications for wildlife facilities with detailed documentation like facility specifications and insurance. The bill also requires all licensees to retain records open for inspection by wildlife officials for at least 5 years. These changes streamline oversight while imposing clearer fee structures and documentation standards for regulated commercial wildlife activities.

Maddy summaryHB 105 simplifies licensing for Montana game bird farms by removing unnecessary notification requirements for licensees and the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. It establishes a $300 annual license fee, extends licenses to a 5-year term (renewable annually), and requires farms to report bird inventory and transactions annually. Operators must maintain records for 5 years and notify the department of any operational changes, such as species or enclosure modifications. This bill directly affects commercial game bird farm owners and operators by reducing administrative burdens while maintaining reporting and recordkeeping standards.

Maddy summaryHB 104 expands the investigative authority of agents appointed by Montana's Attorney General. It adds human trafficking, prostitution, and internet crimes against children to the list of offenses these agents can investigate concurrently with local law enforcement. The bill specifically defines "internet crimes against children" to include offenses like sexual assault, child sex trafficking, and other technology-facilitated crimes against minors. This change directly affects Attorney General-appointed agents, clarifying their jurisdiction without creating new penalties or funding. The bill amends Section 44-2-115 of Montana Code Annotated.

Maddy summaryHB 124 would have required most bicycle riders on Montana roadways to travel *opposite* the direction of traffic flow, unless accompanied by a flag vehicle escort. This would have directly affected all cyclists riding on public roads without an escort, changing the standard practice of riding with traffic. The bill’s key provision would have mandated opposite-flow riding (facing oncoming vehicles) for unescorted cyclists, while allowing with-flow riding when a flag vehicle was present. It also aimed to repeal two existing Montana Code sections about bicycle traffic laws (61-8-602 and 61-8-605). Note: The bill was withdrawn on February 20, 2025, and is no longer active.