Rep. Tom France

Maddy summaryHB 560 would have established a Montana Hunters' and Anglers' Community Fund, allowing donors to contribute $1 or more above the cost of wildlife conservation licenses. Funds collected would support grants for small rural communities (under 7,500 people) through the Department of Commerce, including projects like school improvements, food banks, or student programs. Grants would be limited to $2,000 (small) or $20,000 (large), with eligibility restrictions barring political activities and entities involved in lawsuits. The bill created a review board appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, and it died in committee in May 2025 without becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution (HJ 73) requests an interim study to examine the long-term funding, expansion, and stability of Montana’s Block Management Program, which provides public hunting access on enrolled private lands. The study will assess current funding sustainability, landowner compensation caps, and strategies to retain landowners and expand acreage, involving stakeholders like hunters, landowners, and the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. It does not change the program directly but will inform future legislative action. The resolution was passed by the House in 2025 but died in process before moving to the Senate.

Maddy summaryHB 857 proposes to establish a surcharge for hunters and anglers who lease private land for hunting or fishing. Individuals who lease land would be required to declare their lease and pay an additional 10% of their annual lease payment to the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks when purchasing a conservation license. The revenues generated from this surcharge would be specifically used to fund the state's block management program. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the revocation of hunting and fishing privileges for at least five years.

Maddy summaryHB 813, known as the "Agricultural Emissions Right to Repair Act," aimed to revise laws concerning the repair and maintenance of agricultural equipment. The bill would have required original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide independent repair providers and equipment owners with documentation, parts, and tools necessary for diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing agricultural equipment *emission systems*. These resources were to be made available on "fair and reasonable terms," and the bill prohibited practices such as parts pairing that could hinder repairs. The goal was to ensure greater access to the resources needed for fixing emissions-related components on agricultural machinery.

Maddy summaryHB 622 proposes to revise protection order laws by establishing a new process for "extreme risk orders of protection." This procedure allows law enforcement officers, partners, or family members to petition a court to temporarily prohibit an individual from possessing or acquiring firearms. A court may issue such an order if it finds the person poses a significant risk of causing personal injury to themselves or others. If an order is granted, the individual's firearms must be surrendered, and any concealed weapon permits would be revoked, with provisions for their return under specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 372 revises the fees for several hunting licenses in Montana, directly impacting resident and nonresident hunters. The bill increases the amount from the sale of specific licenses, such as raising the resident upland game bird license fee from $2 to $7.50 and the nonresident upland game bird license fee from $23 to $37. These increased funds are designated exclusively for the state's upland game bird enhancement program. The revised fees are scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 559, which was withdrawn on February 21, 2025, proposed establishing two weekly "commercial fishing, guiding, and outfitting-free days" on specific Montana rivers (including the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Madison, and Yellowstone) between May 30 and Labor Day. It would have required the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to designate stretches of these rivers where commercial operations are prohibited on two days weekly (one must be Saturday), aiming to reduce overcrowding. The bill directly affected commercial fishing outfitters, guides, and recreational users by altering access during peak summer months. Rulemaking was required by May 15, 2026, but the bill was withdrawn before committee action.