Rep. Tyson Running Wolf

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 545 revises laws concerning missing and murdered indigenous persons. The bill specifically updates the name, membership, and duties of the existing Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force. This legislation aims to enhance state efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous individuals.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 1 (HJ 1) is a resolution from the Montana Legislature urging the United States Congress to fully fund public safety and law enforcement agencies and programs within Montana's Indian reservations. It also calls on the U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate with the Department of the Interior and consult with tribal governments to improve the administration and funding of tribal justice systems, including courts and victim services. The resolution further invites Montana's tribal governments and requests the Governor to send supporting communications to Congress, which the Montana Secretary of State will then compile and forward.

Maddy summaryHB 83 creates a dedicated state special revenue account to support Montana's Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, administered by the Department of Justice. The account accepts funds from donations, grants, or other sources (not new taxes) and requires all spending to align with existing task force guidelines under Montana law. It includes a symbolic $1 initial appropriation for 2025-2027, mandates tribal government notification, and expires June 30, 2033. The bill directly affects the task force and its operations, providing a structured funding mechanism for its work.

Maddy summaryHB 282 would have amended Montana's tuition waiver law to require tribal certification for descendants of federally recognized tribes seeking tuition waivers. Specifically, it would have added a requirement that descendants provide a certificate of descendancy issued by their tribe to qualify for waivers under Section 20-25-421(2)(c)(i). This change would directly affect American Indian students who are descendants of Montana tribes but not enrolled members, as they would need formal tribal verification to access the waiver. The bill was withdrawn before becoming law on February 22, 2025.