HB 244 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise hunting licenses for deployed armed service members

HB 244 revises hunting and fishing license provisions for Montana residents serving in the armed forces. It allows eligible members of the National Guard, federal reserve, or active duty who served at least two months outside the state in a contingency operation to receive a free resident conservation license and a fishing or combination sports license for five years, with the option to reset this period after subsequent deployments. The bill also guarantees that service members who forfeited a drawn license due to deployment can receive that same license upon their return without additional cost. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will be reimbursed from the state's general fund for the cost of these free licenses.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed Apr 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0244_1(12).pdf HB0244_X.pdf · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill updates the Montana Code to provide free hunting and fishing licenses to active-duty service members who deploy for at least two months. It clarifies eligibility for both veterans with combat-connected injuries and current National Guard or federal reserve members, while also ensuring that members who forfeit licenses due to deployment are guaranteed the same license upon return.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of eligibility by explicitly including members of the Montana National Guard and federal reserve engaged in contingency operations, in addition to veterans with combat-connected injuries.
ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for Montana residents in the National Guard or federal reserve who serve at least two months outside the state in a contingency operation to receive free resident conservation and fishing licenses.

Clarified that licenses issued to veterans or disabled service members do not count against the quota reserved for people with permanent disabilities.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific documentation requirements, mandating the submission of DD Form 214 and proof of participation in a contingency operation to claim free licenses.

FISCAL

Established a quarterly reimbursement mechanism from the general fund to cover the costs of free licenses granted to qualifying service members.

TIMELINE

Extended the window for receiving free licenses to include the year following the member's return from service and allows for a reset of the entitlement period if a member deploys again.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 1, 2025 · House Feb 12, 2025

How they voted

500
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 1, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
39
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Apr 17, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0)
senate
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Fish and Game
upper
Feb 12, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (100-0)
house
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Steve Gist
Steve Gist
RRepublican
MT
25