Montana Legislature
Legislative Session 2011
As we do for every legislative session, MWF monitors and provides a Sportspersons - MWF 2011 Legislative Watch List. Understand that this list of legislative measures is as fluid as the Legislative Bill Draft Request List…it changes everyday. We encourage frequent visitation so that you may keep abreast of measures as they are presented to Legislators and Committees.
Each day we will be checking on how bills are advancing, moving from a Legislative Council (LC) number to a bill #, their status in drafting, title changes and clarity, committee assignments and hearing dates. We will provide a Legislative Watch List each week.
Some requests to draft a measure may have not made it to the status of a bill or even into language drafting but may only be identifiable by its “Short Title”.
While others may not yet be a bill but you might be able to retrieve the draft language.
Some reasons for being unable to retrieve language include a “Draft Request Received”, “Draft On Hold”, “Draft Taken Off Hold” ‘In Drafting”, “Died in Process or Cancelled”, “Draft in Legal Review”, or a draft has been “Returned to the Requester” of a bill.
On the list below we have identified bills that are continuing to move forward with a ‘hyphen’ or ‘dash’ (-) before the bill number. Meaning the bill is still alive and moving in come capacity. There are many that are simply sitting there – “On Hold” and may or may not move through the process but may be dropped by the bill drafting requested legislator or picked up by another.
For those that are not yet a bill but the language is available for review on-line we have put an X before the number.
You can check on the status of all the bills (2,140 today)
You can look up the List of All Introduced and Unintroduced Bills
Or you can retrieve individual bills by using the numbers we are providing on this watch list.
The MWF lobby team does everything it can to monitor, inform and engage the hunting, fishing and wildlife conservation public but we cannot do it alone. The voice of the public, hunters and anglers are what truly make a difference and influence how a bill may proceed.
We ask you to seriously consider signing for the MWF SPORTSMANS ADVOCATE NETWORK
To find out how to communicate with a legislator you can find their contact information here
To send messages to a legislator through an On-line Message Form
Or call and leave a personal message at : (406) 444-4800
Please feel free to contact MWF at anytime if you have a question about the status of a bill: mwf@mtwf.org
Montana Legislature Contact
For your voting district and your Senator and Representative in the Montana Legislature, click here: Montana Legislative Districts 
Helpful Internet Information and Bill Tracking
Official Website for the Montana Legislature
Write to:
(Name of Representative)
Montana House of Representatives
State Capitol
P.O. Box 200400
Helena, MT 59620-0400
(Name of Senator)
Montana Senate
State Capitol
P.O. Box 200500
Helena, MT 59620-0500
Telephone:
For legislative information or to LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR A LEGISLATOR: (406) 444-4800.
Fax:
Montana House of Representatives: (406) 444-4825
Montana Senate: (406) 444-4875
LEGISLATIVE ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER sends messages to your legislator's desk.
11 MWF Legislative Watch List
(April 6th 2011)
Bison
HB318 Wendy Warburton Ensure county oversight in movement of publicly-owned wild buffalo- Transmitted to Governor
SB207 Frederick "Eric" Moore Clarify laws administered by dept. of livestock applicability to bison- (H) Agriculture Committee Concurred as Amended
SB212 Rick Ripley Clarify FWP authority to manage wild buffalo or bison- Scheduled for 3rd Reading on Senate Floor
BLM/Federal Land & Public Land
HJ4 Ken Peterson Resolution opposing national monuments without state's consent- Filed with Secretary of State
SJ6 Alan Olson Resolution regarding federal land use policy- Returned from Enrolling
HB292 Dan Kennedy Constitutional referendum amending right to a clean and healthful environment- 3rd Reading Failed on Senate Floor
Brucellosis
SB237: Ron Arthun Revise laws relating to brucellosis surveillance- (S) Sent to Enrolling
Wildlife Management
SB108 Debby Barrett Revise policy for management of large predators- Scheduled for 3rd Reading on Senate Floor
HB622 Duane Ankney Revising funding for livestock mitigation and control of predatory animals- Hearing: April 7th, Room 317, 9:00AM, (S) Finance and Claims
Fisheries/Instream Flow/Fishing
HB47 Ken Peterson Authorize first Saturday of June as “free” fishing day- Hearing: April 8th, Room 350, 4:00PM, (S) Conference Committee
SJ7 John Brenden Oppose clean water restoration act & navigable rivers- (S) Returned from Enrolling
SB343 Verdell Jackson Revise Montana Aquatic Invasive Species Act- (H) Agriculture Committee: Bill Concurred
HB449 Mark Blasdel Revise penalties for unlawful introduction of fish- Transmitted to Governor
FWP Laws Revise General
SB92 Larry Jent Revise falconry law allowing nonresident capture- Transmitted to Governor
SB124 Rick Ripley Reorganize and recodify fish and game criminal statutes- Scheduled for 3rd Reading on Senate Floor
SB390 Llew Jones Revise laws related to wildlife population management funding- Hearing: April 5th, Room 152, 3:00PM, (H) FWP Committee
HB337 Mike Menehan Revising definitions related to fish and game violations- Transmitted to Governor
HB566 Max Yates Revise laws related to hunting license bonus point system- Transmitted to Governor
HB339 Liz Bangerter Eliminate limit on sale of Class B-13 youth nonresident big game combo- Transmitted to Governor
SB173 Bruce Tutvedt Revise laws regarding shooting ranges- Scheduled for 3rd Reading on Senate Floor
HB209 Ted Washburn Revise maintenance laws for FWP land to prioritize funds for WMAs- Hearing: April 5th, Room 422, 3:00PM, (S) Fish and Game
HB372 Ted Washburn Clarify preference system laws for nonresident permits and licenses- Hearing: April 6th, Room 422, 3:00PM, (S) Fish and Game
SB184 Kendall Van Dyk Allow for bow and arrow bison hunt- Returned from Enrolling
SB255 John Brendan Generally revise laws governing fish and game commission- Scheduled for 3rd Reading on Senate Floor
HB336 Mike Menahan Revise penalties for waste of game- Sent to Enrolling
HB449 Mark Blasdel Revise penalties for unlawful introduction of fish- Transmitted to Governor
HB475 Pat Connell Laws relating to game management & predator- (S) Fish and Game Committee: Bill Concurred
HB272 Kelly Flynn Eliminate ability for FWP to use hunting access fees to acquire fee title lands- Transmitted to Governor
HB361 Ted Washburn Requiring the issuance of archery-only elk permits at 2007 levels- 3rd Reading on Senate Floor Failed
Hunting
SB99 John Brenden Commission for vendor for ‘each’ super tag sold- 3rd Reading on House Floor Concurred
SB157 Kendall Van Dyk Donation $1 or more, Voluntary Wild Game Hunger Program- Tabled in (H) FWP Committee
HB159 Cary Smith Restrict authority of FWP to regulate ammo or firearms for hunting- (S) Fish and Game Committee: Concurred as Amended
HB172 Ted Washburn Revise hunting of grizzly bears- (S) Returned to House with Amendments
HB176 Doug Kary Provide antelope tag for certain persons with terminally illness- Transmitted to Governor, Chapter number assigned
SB115 Greg Hinkle Prohibit disclosure of certain hunters' information- Transmitted to Governor
SB136 Joe Balyeat Revise residency requirements for hunting- Scheduled for 3rd Reading on Senate Floor
HB285 Bill Harris Revise elk hunting permits for limited drawing districts- Hearing: April 7th, Room 422, 3:00PM, (S) Fish and Game
HB387 Kelly Flynn Revise issuance of B-10 and B-11 hunting licenses & related permits- Hearing March 31st, Room 422, 11:00AM, (S) Fish and Game Committee
HB475 Pat Connell Revise laws relating to game management and predator control- (S) Fish and Game Committee: Bill Concurred
HB261 Matthew M Rosendale Revise upland game bird hunting laws- Hearing: April 7th, Room 422, 3:00PM, (S) Fish and Game Committee
SB400 Chas Vincent Revise Big Game Licensing Laws- Hearing: April 7th, Room 152, 3:00PM, (H) FWP Committee
HB607 Jeffrey Welborn Clarifying procedure for sale of B10 nonresident big game combo licenses- Hearing: April 6th, Room 422, 3:00PM, (S) Fish and Game Committee
Law Enforcement
HB134 Carolyn Squires Provide benefit & funding for game warden/peace officers retirement- Transmitted to Governor
Mining/Oil & Gas
LC0922 Chas Vincent Generally revise mining laws
Non-profits
HB63 Pat Noonan Allow non-profit to auction or raffle alcoholic bev. for fundraising- Transmitted to Governor, Chapter number assigned
Outfitters
SB118 Larry Jent Revise laws on leasing of outfitter/guide equipment to include contracting- Transmitted to Governor
HB458 Jeffery Welborn Generally revise laws related to outfitting- (S) Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee Report: Bill Concurred
State Lands/FWP Lands/Wildlife Mgmt Areas
SB100 Jim Shockley Disposition of damage awards for state land leases– Scheduled for 2nd Reading on Senate Floor
HB541 Jeffrey Welborn Exempt domestic livestock trailing from FWP regulation and MEPA- Sent to Enrolling
State Parks
SB43 Jim Keane Revise primitive parks act- Sent to Enrolling
HB98 Jeff Welborn Direct proceeds from sale of state parks, deposit in state parks revenue fund–Transmitted to Governor, Chapter number assigned
Stream Access
Takings
LC1368 Jim Peterson Generally revise takings laws
SB347 Bob Lake Revise the private property assessment act- Scheduled for 2nd Reading on Senate Floor
Water
SB35 Bradley Hamlett Revise laws related to navigable river beds- Sent to Enrolling
SJ7 John Brenden Resolution opposing clean waters restoration act and navigable rivers- Returned from Enrolling
Wolves
HJ1 Mike Milburn Resolution urging fed legislation removing wolf from ESA- Filed with Secretary of State
SB414 Joe Balyeat Provide for control of wolves- Hearing: April 6th, Room 102, 8:00AM, (H) Appropriations
SB348 Debby Barrett Revise funding for wolf management- (H) FWP: Bill Concurred as Amended
HB363 Mike Cuffe Generally revise wolf loss reduction and mitigation accounts- (S) Fish and Game: Bill Concurred as Amended
HB287 Christy Clark Collection of wolf hides for livestock loss reduction & mitigation- Transmitted to Governor, Chapter number assigned
SB402 Joe Balyeat Provide for Spring Wolf Hunts- Scheduled for 2nd Reading on House Floor
