Environment

signed · Montana · House Sep 29, 2025

HB 259: Revise fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management

HB 259 revises Montana's gray wolf management rules to give the Fish and Wildlife Commission more flexibility in controlling wolf populations. It allows landowners to kill wolves threatening livestock or safety without a hunting license (subject to reporting and annual quotas), expands hunting/trapping on private land at night using thermal/infrared scopes, and permits unlimited wolf harvest in high-population areas. The bill directly affects landowners, hunters, and the Fish and Wildlife Commission, which must implement these changes. Key provisions include new landowner take rules, modified hunting seasons based on regional wolf numbers, and immediate implementation upon enactment.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAllows unrestricted wolf killing and weakens conservation protections, prioritizing livestock over ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

vetoed · Montana · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 283: Revise laws for hunting licenses lotteries

HB 283 would allow Montana's wildlife commission to issue one male mountain sheep and one male Shiras moose hunting license annually through a lottery or auction, instead of traditional methods. Hunters seeking these licenses would enter the lottery, and any proceeds from sales would fund conservation efforts for these species, with wildlife groups allowed to retain up to 10% of proceeds to cover lottery costs. The bill specifies that all remaining funds must directly benefit mountain sheep and moose management, supplementing existing department budgets. Note: This bill was vetoed by the governor and the legislature failed to override the veto, so it is not currently law.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates hunting license proceeds to fund mountain sheep/moose conservation, directly advancing species protection through dedicated funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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vetoed · Montana · Senate Jun 12, 2025

SB 472: Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process

SB 472 removes the previous $250,000 cap on civil penalties for repeated violations of Montana's stream protection rules (under the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act). It specifically exempts forest activities that follow state forestry rules from these penalties. The bill affects developers, loggers, or others working in stream zones who violate permit requirements, allowing penalties to grow without limit for ongoing violations. It takes immediate effect upon approval.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves $250k penalty cap for repeated stream protection violations, strengthening enforcement. Exemption for compliant forest activities doesn't weaken overall environmental protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 340: Generally revise laws relating to challenges brought under MEPA

SB 340, introduced by Senator D. Zolnikov, would have revised Montana’s environmental law by adding a $240 fee for filing lawsuits challenging agency decisions under the Montana Environmental Protection Act (MEPA). It would have required plaintiffs to cover agency costs for preparing records, limited follow-up lawsuits to new issues only, and prohibited courts from awarding attorney fees or costs to winning plaintiffs. The bill directed the $240 fee to the state’s environmental rehabilitation account, which funds mine reclamation and hazardous waste cleanup. However, the bill died in committee in May 2025 and never became law.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAdds $240 fee and barriers to MEPA lawsuits, reducing legal challenges to environmental agency decisions and weakening enforcement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 427: Provide trapping setback distances for certain roads and trails

SB 427 establishes minimum distance requirements for trapping on Montana's public lands near developed areas. It requires trappers to set traps at least 50 feet from roads/trails, 1,000 feet from campgrounds/recreation sites (including boat ramps), and 300 feet from trailheads (with 1,000 feet for lethal traps). The bill directly affects trappers operating on public lands, particularly those near popular recreation areas, and gives the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission authority to adjust these distances in high-use zones. The provisions aim to reduce conflicts between trapping activities and public recreation by creating physical buffers around developed sites.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes setback distances to protect wildlife near recreation areas, aligning with conservation goals by reducing human-wildlife conflict in sensitive zones.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 209: Revise term length of conservation easements

SB 209 limits conservation easements to a maximum term of 40 years (previously allowing perpetual terms), amending Montana law to require renewal for additional periods. It directly affects landowners who use conservation easements, prohibiting restrictions on agricultural activities for lands used for farming within the past decade and banning land conversion to federal control under such easements. Key provisions include revising definitions of "conservation easement" and "open-space land," and ensuring property tax assessments reflect the land's restricted use without lowering valuation. The bill does not change existing permitted easement restrictions (like limiting construction or development) but adds specific protections for agricultural use and landowner control.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentLimits conservation easements to 40 years (vs perpetual), prohibits agricultural restrictions, and bans federal land conversion, weakening long-term environmental protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 176: Require unlimited wolf hunting quota when population is at or above 450 wolves

House Bill 176 (HB 176) revises Montana's wolf hunting laws, primarily affecting the Fish and Wildlife Commission, wolf hunters, trappers, and landowners. The bill mandates an unlimited statewide gray wolf hunting quota when the state's wolf population reaches or exceeds 450 wolves. Under this quota, the Commission must authorize multiple hunting licenses per applicant, allow an individual to harvest an unlimited number of wolves, permit the use of bait for hunting or trapping, and allow night hunting on private lands with artificial light or night vision scopes. It also requires consistent data modeling for wolf population estimates.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes population limits on wolf hunting, weakening conservation protections for an ecosystem keystone species per Fish and Wildlife subjects.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 258: Requiring the extension of wolf hunting season

House Bill 258 (HB 258) aimed to revise laws concerning wolf hunting in Montana. The bill would have required the Fish and Wildlife Commission to authorize an annual wolf hunting season. Its main provision was to extend this wolf hunting season to conclude concurrently with the spring bear hunting season, allowing for specific regional adjustments by the commission. This legislation would have directly impacted wolf hunters and the state's wildlife management policies for wolves.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExtends wolf hunting season, potentially reducing wolf populations and weakening conservation efforts for a protected species under environmental protection policies.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 935: Limits to Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer withdrawals

HB 935 allows the department to temporarily suspend or close new permit applications for large groundwater appropriations (3,000 gallons per minute or more) from specific areas within the Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer. This action aims to balance water development with the protection of existing water rights. The bill also mandates the Bureau of Mines and Geology to conduct a feasibility study on groundwater availability in these areas. It appropriates $5,000 for this study, and the act's provisions are set to terminate on June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts large groundwater withdrawals to protect aquifer (natural resource) and mandates study for sustainable management, aligning with conservation goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 932: Generally revise conservation financing laws

House Bill 932 revises laws related to funding for conservation efforts, primarily by reallocating a portion of the state's marijuana tax revenue. The bill establishes a new Habitat Legacy Account, which receives 20% of the net balance from the Marijuana State Special Revenue Account after an initial transfer. Funds from this Habitat Legacy Account are then distributed into three other new accounts. These accounts are dedicated to securing wildlife habitat, funding wildlife improvement projects, and supporting the design and construction of big game and wildlife highway crossings to enhance animal movement and safety. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is responsible for administering these new accounts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates Habitat Legacy Account using marijuana tax revenue to fund wildlife habitat conservation and improvement projects, directly advancing environmental protection through dedicated funding streams.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment