Final Legislative Update
May 4 , 2009
The 2009 Legislative session is at a close.
This was the busiest session I remember for quite some time. We enjoyed many victories this year by defeating several challenges to bowhunting opportunities and lending support to other bills which safeguarded access and proper wildlife management.
I want to thank each of you for contacting legislators in response to our alerts – your input made a huge impact! That’s where the “rubber hits the road” during these sessions, and we were very effective due to all of your input this year.
HB 434 Allow disabled persons to hunt with a crossbow during archery season.
Position: Opposed. Status: Dead. We defeated this bill through a spirit of mutual respect for the proponents and education of lawmakers and the public as to the modifications currently available for archery equipment. This effort proved the importance of educating bowhunters around the state about modified archery equipment available to those with disabilities.
HB 74 Allow the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission the discretion to include mountain lion, bear, and wolf among the species for which the commission may designate archery seasons (amends Section 87-1-304, MCA). Position: Support. Status: Signed into law 3/17/2009. The passage of this bill was quite a feather in our cap, as it opens the door for expanded archery opportunity. We will request the commission set specific archery seasons for mountain lion, bear, and wolf during the 2010 Tentative process.
SB 31 Revise qualifications of FWP Commission by providing at least one member engaged in breeding and management of domestic livestock and have an ownership interest in at least 1280 acres of land (amends Section 2-15-3402, MCA).
Position: Opposed. Status: Dead. This bill provided unnecessary additional requirements for the landowner representative on the commission.
SB 402 Clarify property rights for which just compensation is due when taken. Position: Opposed. Status: Dead. This bill would have overturned the I-143 Supreme Court decision and resulted in reimbursement to game farms for losses incurred by the “takings” of their property.
SB 435 No net gain in state lands.
Position: Opposed. Status: Dead. This was another bill which threatened access and opportunity. The bill required the state to divest property for each acquisition such that there would be not net gain in state land ownership. This one also passed the Senate, then stalled in the House FWP due to sportsman input.
SB 217 Reimburse livestock producers for tests for disease transmitted by wildlife. Position: Opposed. Status: Dead. This bill would have required FWP to pay for brucellosis testing – to the tune of $18 million over the next 2-3 years. Again, your input made the difference and legislators chose to seek stimulus funds for immediate brucellosis remediation.
SJ 15 Urge vigorous defense of gray wolf delisting. Position: Support.
Status: Signed into law 4/9/2009.
SB 164 Revise FWP land management and acquisition re: Good Neighbor Policy. Position: Support. Status: Transmitted to Governor 4/24/2009. This bill initially would have required FWP to “pad” any land purchases by 40% to cover weed management costs. Fortunately, FWP and Senator Barrett worked out compromises which are now less financially harmful to FWP and satisfactory to the proponents.
HB 585 Implement PL/PW recommendations: "Come Home to Hunt" pilot project. Position: Neutral. Status: Transmitted to Governor 4/14/2009.
HB 137 Revise license benefits for landowners enrolled in the hunter management program (block management); allowing employees of landowners to receive the free big game combination license allotted to the landowner (amends Section 87-1-266, MCA). Position: Oppose. Status: Signed into law 4/1/2009.
HB 314 Wildlife damage Mitigation Act (MWF's Anti-harboring bill). Position: Support/neutral. Status: Dead.
SB 162 Restrict ability to limit hunting permits for certain species. Position: Oppose. Status: Dead.
SB 383 Require full-size license plates on ATVs and off-highway vehicles. Position: Support. Status: Dead.
HB 614 Crime to ride off-highway vehicles on closed public lands. Position: Support. Status: Dead.
HB 336 Authorize use of dogs to track wounded game animals. Tabled.
SB 32 Allow chiropractor to certify disability for hunting purposes. Position: Oppose. Status: Became law 4/27/2009.
SB 59 Require mountain lion trophy fees be used for the management of mountain lions (amends Sections 87-2-507 and 87-2-508, MCA). Position: Support. Status: Dead.
SB 183 Revise state wolf policy. Position: Oppose. Status: Dead. This bill would have jeopardized wolf delisting.
MBA 2009 Final Watch List
as of April 30, 2009
| Bill # | Description | Sponsor | Support/ oppose |
Status | Testimony given - written/hearing |
| HB74 | Authorize archery seasons for mountain lion, wolf, bear | Kendall Van Dyk HD 49 (Billings) | Support | Signed into law 3/17/2009 | written/membership alert/hearing |
| SB217 | Reimburse livestock producers for tests for disease transmitted by wildlife | Debby Barrett SD 36 (Dillon) | Oppose | Tabled in House FWP; dead. | written |
| HB645 | Implement receipt of and appropriate federal stimulus and recovery funds | Jon Sesso | Support | Funding for immediate brucellosis remediation included. | Stimulus funds will be accessed for brucellosis remediation. |
| SB402 | Clarify property rights for which just compensation is due when taken | Jim Petersen SD 15 (Buffalo) | Oppose | House vote failed 49-49; dead | Overturns I-143 Supreme Court decision. Reimburses game farms due to losses incurred. |
| SB435 | No net gain in state land | John Brendan SD 18 (Scobey) | Oppose | House FWP - failed vote 9-9; dead | written |
| SB31 | Revise qualifications of FWP Commission by providing at least one member engaged in breeding and management of domestic livestock and have an ownership interest in at least 1280 acres of land (amends Section 2-15-3402, MCA). | Keith Bales SD 20 (Otter) | Oppose | House FWP vote failed 9-9; dead | written |
| SJ15 | Urge vigorous defense of gray wolf delisting | Bruce Tutvedt SD 3 (Kalispell) | Support | Signed into law 4/9/2009. | written |
| SB164 | Revise FWP land management and acquisition re: Good Neighbor Policy | Debby Barrett SD 36 (Dillon) | Neutral | Transmitted to Governor 4/24/2009. | Amendments satisfactory to FWP. |
| HB585 | Implement PL/PW recommendations: "Come Home to Hunt" pilot project | Edith McClafferty | Neutral | Transmitted to Governor 4/14/2009. |
