Sen. Gregg Hunter

Maddy summarySB 514 generally revises laws related to upland game bird seasons in Montana. The bill requires the Fish and Wildlife Commission to allow Montana residents to hunt certain upland game birds 10 days prior to non-residents. This early hunting period applies to all upland game birds, including ring-necked pheasant, but specifically excludes mountain grouse (blue, spruce, and ruffed grouse). This provision applies to publicly accessible lands, not privately owned lands unless they are part of a hunting access program, and has a delayed effective date of March 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 12 requests an interim study on electric transmission capacity in Montana. The study will investigate congestion and curtailments on specific transmission pathways (8, 18, 80, and 83) and analyze their economic impact on Montana's citizens and industry. It also aims to identify resources, sample power supply pricing, and suggest potential transmission capacity upgrades with associated cost-benefit analyses, with findings to be reported to the 70th Legislature.