Revising licensing requirements for commercial activities regulated by FWP
HB 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.
Bill statussignedall 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 18, 2024Signed Apr 3, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 11 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB0107_X(7).pdf→HB0107_X(8).pdf·2 edits
MINOR
The bill text was updated to standardize the bill number formatting from 'HB0107' to 'HB 107' throughout the document. Additionally, a page header indicating the authorized print version was removed, likely to streamline the final enrolled text for publication.
TECHNICAL
Standardized the bill number format from 'HB0107' to 'HB 107' in the header and title sections.
Deleted a footer line stating 'Authorized Print Version - HB 107' from page 3.
HB0107_X(2).pdf→HB0107_X(3).pdf·1 edit
MINOR
The bill text was updated to include a new page header indicating this is an 'Authorized Print Version' of HB 107. This change is purely technical and formatting-related, intended to clarify the official status of the document for distribution. There are no substantive changes to the bill's policy, scope, funding, or legal requirements.
TECHNICAL
Added a page header stating 'Authorized Print Version - HB 107' to identify the document format.
HB0107_2(12).pdf→HB0107_X.pdf·4 edits
MODERATE
The bill updates Montana's regulations for taxidermists, fur dealers, exotic wildlife owners, and zoo operators. Key changes include clarifying record-keeping retention periods, adjusting permit fees for exotic animals, and standardizing application requirements across different facility types.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of regulated entities to explicitly include menageries, sanctuaries, and zoos in the title and text, and clarifies the distinction between roadside menageries and other wildlife facilities.
REQUIREMENT
Record retention for taxidermists remains 5 years, but fur dealer records were changed from 5 years to 1 year, whichever is longer.
Application requirements for wild animal menageries now explicitly require proof of land title or lease status.
FISCAL
Permit fees for exotic wildlife were adjusted, with a specific mention of a $10 fee for five or fewer animals and $25 for more than five.
TECHNICAL
Several sections were reorganized and renumbered to improve clarity and consistency in the legislative text.
HB0107_2(11).pdf→HB0107_2(12).pdf·4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from HB 107 to HB 107.2 and includes significant increases in recordkeeping retention periods for taxidermists and fur dealers, changing the requirement from 5 years to 'as long as the articles remain in possession or at least 5 years' and from 1 year to 'as long as the skins remain in possession or at least 5 years' respectively. Additionally, the permit fee structure for exotic wildlife was modified to include a specific threshold for five or fewer animals versus more than five, though the exact dollar amounts in the text appear inconsistent or contain drafting errors.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on licensing and permitting for taxidermists, fur dealers, and exotic wildlife facilities, but the compliance requirements for record retention have been expanded to cover a longer duration relative to possession.
REQUIREMENT
Recordkeeping retention periods for taxidermists were modified to require records to be kept for as long as wildlife articles are in possession or at least 5 years, whichever is longer.
Recordkeeping retention periods for fur dealers were modified to require records to be kept for as long as skins remain in possession or at least 5 years, whichever is longer.
FISCAL
Permit fee structure for exotic wildlife was modified to distinguish between fees for five or fewer animals versus more than five animals.
TECHNICAL
The bill number was updated from HB 107 to HB 107.2, indicating a revision or re-introduction of the legislation.
HB0107_2(10).pdf→HB0107_2(11).pdf·4 edits
MODERATE
The bill updates the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks' regulations to modernize licensing and permitting for taxidermists, fur dealers, exotic wildlife owners, and zoo operators. Key changes include clarifying the definition of a taxidermist, adjusting record-keeping retention periods for fur dealers from five years to one year, and establishing specific permit fees for exotic wildlife facilities based on the number of animals.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of the act's title to explicitly include menageries, sanctuaries, and zoos alongside existing categories, ensuring all wildlife-related businesses are clearly covered under the new licensing framework.
REQUIREMENT
Updated the record-keeping retention period for fur dealers from five years to one year after license expiration, reducing long-term administrative burdens for small businesses.
Revised the permit fee structure for exotic wildlife facilities, introducing a tiered system where facilities with five or fewer animals pay a lower fee compared to those with more animals.
Adjusted the language regarding permit validity dates to ensure consistency across different types of wildlife permits.
DEFINITION
Refined the definition of a taxidermist to ensure clarity on what constitutes a business activity for the purpose of the law.
HB0107_1(7).pdf→HB0107_2(8).pdf·3 edits
MINOR
The bill includes minor formatting corrections to the header and page numbering. It also adds a specific requirement for fur dealers to retain records for at least one additional year beyond the current five-year rule, though the exact duration of this extension is unclear in the text. Additionally, the text for the permit fee calculation appears to contain a likely typo ('five or less fewer') that needs review.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on regulating roadside menageries, wild animal menageries, wildlife sanctuaries, and zoos, with no changes to which entities are regulated.
REQUIREMENT
Fur dealers are now required to keep written records for an additional year beyond the standard five-year retention period, though the specific total duration is ambiguous in the text.
TECHNICAL
The text describing permit fees contains a confusing phrase ('five or less fewer') that likely represents a drafting error and requires clarification.
Minor formatting adjustments were made to the document header and page numbering sequences.
HB0107_2(7).pdf→HB0107_1(7).pdf·5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from HB 107.2 to HB 107.1 and expanded its regulatory scope to include wildlife sanctuaries and zoos alongside roadside menageries. It updated permit fees, clarified that permits are valid through February 28 of the following year, and added new requirements for facility applications, including specific land ownership details and proof of financial responsibility.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly covers wildlife sanctuaries and zoos in addition to roadside and wild animal menageries, broadening the entities subject to state regulation and permitting.
SCOPE
Expanded the definition of regulated facilities to include wildlife sanctuaries and zoos.
REQUIREMENT
Added specific application requirements for wildlife sanctuaries and zoos, including proof of land title and financial responsibility.
Updated permit validity dates to expire on December 31 but remain effective through February 28 of the following year.
Mandated that permit applications for wild animal menageries include details on land ownership type (e.g., fee, lease, contract for deed).
FISCAL
Adjusted permit fees to $10 for five or fewer animals and $25 for more than five animals.
HB0107_1(6).pdf→HB0107_2(7).pdf·3 edits
MINOR
The bill primarily involves technical formatting updates to the header and page numbering. One substantive change was identified in the record-keeping requirement for fur dealers, where the text was altered to include '1 YEAR' alongside the existing '5 years' rule, potentially creating ambiguity about the required retention period.
REQUIREMENT
The record retention period for fur dealers was modified by inserting the text '1 YEAR' into the clause requiring records to be kept for at least 5 years or as long as skins are in possession, which may alter or confuse the original requirement.
TECHNICAL
The header text was changed from 'HB 107.1' to 'HB0107.2', and the year '2025' was reformatted with a leading dash, representing administrative updates rather than policy changes.
The text 'fewer' was inserted into the permit fee section for five or less animals, changing the phrasing from 'five or less' to 'five or less fewer', which is a grammatical adjustment.
HB0107_2(6).pdf→HB0107_1(6).pdf·5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from HB 107.2 to HB 107.1 and updated the version number. The most significant policy change expands the scope of regulations to include wildlife sanctuaries and zoos alongside roadside menageries and wild animal menageries. Additionally, permit fees were adjusted, and application requirements were increased to include specific details about facility ownership and proof of financial responsibility.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly cover wildlife sanctuaries and zoos, which were previously not listed in the regulatory sections for permits and record-keeping.
SCOPE
Expanded the definition of regulated facilities to include wildlife sanctuaries and zoos in addition to roadside and wild animal menageries.
REQUIREMENT
Added new requirements for permit applications to include proof of land ownership or lease status and a demonstration of the applicant's financial responsibility.
Updated the mandatory record-keeping period for fur dealers to be 'at least 5 years' without the previous 'whichever is longer' clause.
FISCAL
Adjusted permit fees to $10 for five or fewer animals and $25 for more than five animals, with clarified expiration and renewal terms.
TECHNICAL
Changed the bill number from HB 107.2 to HB 107.1 and updated the legislative session versioning.
HB0107_1(5).pdf→HB0107_2.pdf·4 edits
MODERATE
The bill primarily reorganizes the document structure by adding section headers and removing formatting artifacts. It includes a minor technical correction to a permit fee description, changing 'five or less fewer' to 'five or less', and adds a placeholder note regarding a 1-year record retention period in the fur dealer section. No substantive policy changes regarding animal welfare standards, enforcement penalties, or operational requirements were identified.
TECHNICAL
Corrected a typo in the roadside menagerie permit fee description, changing 'five or less fewer animals' to 'five or less animals'.
Inserted a placeholder text '1 YEAR' in the fur dealer record retention clause, likely indicating a pending legislative decision on the specific duration.
Added section headers and bill version identifiers to improve document organization.
Removed formatting artifacts and duplicate header lines from the original document.
LC0518.pdf→HB0107_1.pdf·3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from LC 0518 to HB 107.1 and updated with an authorized print version header. A new requirement was added to permit applications for wildlife sanctuaries or zoos, mandating that applicants provide their name and address. Minor text adjustments were made to the record retention clause for fur dealers, clarifying the duration of record-keeping obligations.
TECHNICAL
Bill number changed from LC 0518 to HB 107.1 and updated headers to reflect the new bill number.
REQUIREMENT
Added a specific requirement for permit applications for wildlife sanctuaries or zoos to include the applicant's name and address.
Adjusted the record retention language for fur dealers to clarify that records must be kept as long as skins remain in possession or for at least 5 years, whichever is longer.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025 · House Jan 30, 2025
How they voted
32–18
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 19, 2025
D
Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R
Republican32
14 Yea18 Nay
56% Nay
Your representatives
Vote distribution
All YeaAll NayMixedNo data
97–3
Passed
Total votes 100
Jan 30, 2025
D
Democratic42
39 Yea3 Nay
92% Yea
R
Republican58
58 Yea
100% Yea
Your representatives
Vote distribution
All YeaAll NayMixedNo data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
37
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 3, 2025
Became-Law
Chapter Number Assigned
legislature
Apr 3, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Executive-Receipt
(H) Transmitted to Governor
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Other
(H) Returned from Enrolling
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (32-18)
senate
Mar 19, 2025
Other
(H) Sent to Enrolling
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Reading-3
(S) 3rd Reading
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Reading-3
(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Reading-2
(S) 2nd Reading
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Reading-2
(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
upper
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
Feb 5, 2025
Other
(S) Hearing - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Reading-1
(S) 1st Reading
upper
Jan 30, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (97-3)
house
Jan 30, 2025
Other
(H) Transmitted to Senate
lower
Jan 30, 2025
Reading-3
(H) 3rd Reading
lower
Jan 30, 2025
Reading-3
(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Reading-2
(H) 2nd Reading
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Reading-2
(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
lower
Jan 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 10, 2025
Other
(H) Hearing - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 6, 2025
Reading-1
(H) 1st Reading
lower
Dec 20, 2024
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks