HB 559 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

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

HB 559, which was withdrawn on February 21, 2025, proposed establishing two weekly "commercial fishing, guiding, and outfitting-free days" on specific Montana rivers (including the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 Rulemaking was required by May 15, 2026, but the bill was withdrawn before committee action.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Last action Feb 21, 2025

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What changed between versions

LC2406.pdf → HB0559_1.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renamed from LC 2406 to HB 559 and its core purpose shifted from establishing free fishing days to identifying specific river stretches for those days. The department's role changed from designating areas to identifying stretches and making recommendations to the commission, which now has the authority to adopt, modify, or reject those recommendations. A new deadline was added for the department to complete its identification process by October 1, 2027, with the commission required to act within six months of receiving the recommendations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a direct departmental designation process to a collaborative framework where the department identifies candidate stretches and the commission makes the final decision.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the department's duty from designating free fishing areas to identifying candidate stretches and making recommendations to the commission.

Added a requirement for the commission to adopt, modify, or reject the department's recommendations within six months of receipt.

TIMELINE

Added a specific deadline of October 1, 2027, for the department to identify stretches and make recommendations to the commission.

DEFINITION

Replaced the term 'designated' with 'identified' to reflect the new recommendation-based process.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 19, 2025

Committee

(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Introduced

(H) Introduced

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors