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MT HB554

Bill

Official Source

Status

Passed

5/5/2025

Primary Sponsor

Brandon Ler

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2025 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Removes the statutory pathway for the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission to reclassify wolves from "species in need of management" to "game animal" or "furbearer" status
  • Wolves will remain permanently classified as a "species in need of management" following state delisting, rather than transitioning to game animal or furbearer designation
  • Preserves authority for the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and Department of Livestock to control wolves for livestock protection under an approved wolf management plan
  • Maintains the requirement that wolf management plans allow shoot-on-sight permits for landowners and public land permittees who have experienced livestock depredation
  • Amends Section 87-5-131, MCA, which governs the process for delisting gray wolves and their subsequent management

Legislative Description

Remove FWP requirement to regulate wolves as furbearers or game animals

Fish and Wildlife

Last Action

Chapter Number Assigned

5/8/2025

Committee Referrals

Fish and Game3/14/2025
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks2/19/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available