Montana Legislation Important to Agriculture

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The Montana Legislature is already half-way through the session in Helena.  That means that unless a bill is revenue-related, it must be passed out of one house of the legislature this week, or else it dies.  This is known as the Transmittal Deadline, which is on Thursday, February 24th.  That is the day that the Legislature breaks for transmittal and reconvenes on Tuesday, March 1st.

If you are curious about the bills that are important to agriculture, take a look at the following list compiled by the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.  These bills are grouped in categories such as Property Tax, Natural Resources, Water Rights, Livestock, Public Lands, Endangered Species, and more. 

Farm Bureau has identified at least 82 bills below:  61 that they are SUPPORTING, and 21 that Farm Bureau policy OPPOSES.  Hat’s off to MFBF’s Nicole Rolf and John Youngberg, who are part of the Ag Coalition that works on these bills in the Capitol every day!

Many Legislators will be hosting Public Meetings to hear from their constituents this weekend, so plan to show up and give them your support, or your advice on how they could help your industry.

To keep up on the latest Legislative News, listen for our daily Montana Legislative Report with Jay Scott! 

Click here to search for more information on any of the bills below

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

SB 142, Sen. Barrett (R), SD 36, Dillon: “An act revising procedures for notification and transplantation of wolves, bears, and mountain lions; requiring the Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to consult with land agencies and land users.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 2, line 46-48

Action: Bill was referred to House Agriculture Committee on February 10, 2011.

HB 317, Rep. Cook (R), HD 27, Conrad: “An act providing termination dates for statutory appropriations.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 4 line, 122-124

Action: Bill was heard in House Appropriations Committee on January 26, 2011.

HB 283, Rep. Bangerter (R), HD 80, Helena: “An act allowing gender to be considered when issuing or providing certain insurance coverage.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 4, line 119

Action:  Bill was heard in House Appropriations Committee on February 17, 2011.

SB 145, Sen. Lake (R), SD 44, Hamilton: “An act requiring administrative rules to be approved by interim committees.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 3, line 100-103

Action: Bill was tabled in Senate State Administration Committee on February 3, 2011.

HB 318, Rep. Warburton (R), HD 34, Havre: “An act requiring approval of the county commissioners before the Depts. of Livestock or Fish, Wildlife and Parks may authorize any movement of wild buffalo or bison certified as brucellosis-free into a Montana county.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 2, line 46-48

Action: Bill was transmitted to Senate as amended on February 16, 2011.

SB 261, Sen. Essmann (R), SD 28, Billings: “A constitutional referendum to permit annual sessions to provide the Legislature shall meet in each odd-numbered year in a budget session and in each even-numbered year for a regular session, and limiting to 80 the total number of days the Legislature in a two year period.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 3, line 87-88

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Taxation Committee on February 8, 2011.

TAXATION:

SB 70, Sen. Wanzenried (D), SD 49, Missoula: “An act eliminating the carryover of a net operating loss for corporation license tax purposes.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 6, line 19-20

Action: Bill was tabled in Senate Taxation Committee on February 2, 2011.

PROPERTY TAX:

SB 110, Sen. Brenden (R), SD 18, Scobey: “An act allowing an exemption from property taxes, under certain conditions for land owned by a taxpayer that includes a county road and associated easement.”

Position:  Support

Policy: pg. 6, line 1 & pg. 1, line 50-52

Action: Bill passed Senate Taxation Committee as amended on February 10, 2011.

HB 325, Rep. Reiger (R), HD 5, Kalispell:     “An act repealing the tax on certain business personal property classified as class eight property.”

Position:  Support

Policy: pg. 7, line 19-21

Action: Bill was heard in House Taxation Committee on February 2, 2011.

HB 340, Rep. Barrett (D) HD 93, Missoula: “An act providing for the annual reappraisal of agricultural land, residential and commercial land and improvements, and forest land beginning 2016.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 6, line 2-3

Action: Bill was heard in House Taxation Committee on February 3, 2011.

HB 132, Rep. Hoven (R), HD 24, Great Falls: “An act simplifying classification and reporting of values assigned to taxable property, updating definition of “animal unit month,” and eliminating the obsolete language relating to agriculture and forest land.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 7, line 42-43

Action: Bill concurred as amended in Senate Taxation Committee on February 16, 2011.

WORKER’S COMPENSATION:

HB 334, Rep. Reichner (R), HD 9, Big Fork: “An act generally revising worker’s compensation laws; providing for closure of claims, providing a process to reopen claims, establishing a medical director and medical review panel; revising permanent partial disability definition and benefits, and clarifying what constitutes course and scope of employment.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 12, line 1-4

Action: Bill passed House Appropriations Committee on February 15, 2011.

NATURAL RESOURCES:

HB 295, Rep. Cook (R), HD 27, Conrad: “An act generally revising wind easements and wind energy rights, defining wind energy rights as property rights, providing wind energy rights are appurtenant to the surface rights, and providing minimum requirements for wind option agreements and wind energy agreements.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 12, line 36-37

Action:  Bill was transmitted to Senate as amended on February 16, 2011.

SB 233, Sen. Keane (D), SD 38, Butte: “An act revising environmental impact laws; revising statutes related to an environmental impact analysis and an environmental assessment, providing definitions and clarifying that alternatives included in an alternatives analysis are discretionary.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 12, line 18-22

Action: Bill passed Senate Natural Resources Committee as amended on February 7, 2011.

WATER RIGHTS:

SB 36, Sen. Hamlett (D), SD 10, Cascade: “An act providing a district court discretion to award reasonable costs and attorney fees incurred as a result of an appeal of a final decision on a permit application or a change in appropriation right.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 13, line 1-4

Action: Bill was heard in House Judiciary Committee on February 10, 2011.

SB 103, Sen. Jackson (R), SD 5, Kalispell: “An act exempting from permitting the development of ground water wells and springs for use in heating or cooling applications.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 14, line 58

Action: Bill was referred to House Natural Resources Committee on February 7, 2011.

HB 52, Rep. Ankney (R), HD 43, Colstrip: “An act providing rulemaking authority to the Board of Environmental Review to regulate reclaimed wastewater from public sewage systems, defining “reclaimed wastewater,” and authorizing the adoption of treatment standards, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 13, line 14-16

Action: Bill was referred to Senate Natural Resources Committee on February 3, 2011.

HB 24, Rep. McChesney (D), HD 40, Miles City: “An act generally revising water laws related to aquifer recharge and mitigation.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 13, line 5-6

Action: Bill was referred to Senate Natural Resources Committee on February 9, 2011.

SB 128, Sen. Lake (R), SD 44, Hamilton: “An act exempting fire department emergency wells from permitting.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 13, line 14-16

Action: Bill was referred to House Local Government Committee on February 7, 2011.

SB 263, Sen. Facey (D), SD 48, Missoula: “An act requiring minimum streamflow for certain dewatered streams that are important fisheries.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 13, line 14-16

Action: Bill was tabled in Senate Natural Resources Committee on February 15, 2011.

HB 433, Rep. Bennett (R), HD 1, Libby: “An act defining the term “combined appropriation” for water wells that are exempt from water right permitting.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 13, line 14-22

Action: Bill scheduled for Executive Action in House Natural Resources Committee on February 18, 2011.

HB 497, Rep. Clark (R), HD 17, Choteau: “An act removing the prohibition on permits to appropriate and consume more than 4,000 acre-feet of water annually.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 13, line 5-6

Action: Bill was heard in House Agriculture Committee on February 15, 2011.

HB 524, Rep. Kerns (R), HD 58, Laurel: “An act generally revising laws related to water commissioners.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 13, line 7-10

Action: Bill was heard in House Agriculture Committee on February 17, 2011.

SB 356, Sen. Hamlett (D), SD 10, Cascade: “An act clarifying the definition of “good cause shown” for a hearing on temporary preliminary decree or preliminary decree and providing a retroactive applicability date.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 13, line 5-7

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Natural Resources Committee on February 18, 2011.

SB 316, Sen. Jackson (R), SD 5, Kalispell: “An act revising the definition “good cause shown” with regard to the Attorney General, filing an objection in the water adjudication process and providing an immediate effective date.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 13, line 5-7

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Natural Resources Committee on February 18, 2011.

WATER QUALITY:

SJ 7, Sen. Brenden (R), SD 18, Scobey: “A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Montana expressing opposition to federal legislation that would redefine which waters are subject to the federal water pollution control act.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 17, line 8-9

Action: Bill was referred to House Natural Resources Committee on February 7, 2011.

SB 267, Sen. Vincent (R), SD 1, Libby: “An act eliminating the requirement that the Department of Environmental Quality complete certain total maximum daily loads by 2012 for threatened or impaired water bodies, requiring reporting of total maximum daily load progress to the EQC.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 17, line 10-17

Action: Bill was transmitted to House on February 17, 2011.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL:

SJ 10, Sen. Priest (R), SD 30, Red Lodge: “A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Montana opposing efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate green house gas emissions.”

Policy: Support

Position: pg. 20, line 33-37

Action:  Bill scheduled for 2nd Reading on Senate Floor on February 18, 2011.

LAND USE PLANNING:

SB 183, Sen. Brown (R), SD 22, Huntley: “An act prohibiting an establishment of an interim zoning district or interim regulation to prevent a proposed use.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 26, line 8-9

Action: Bill passed Senate Local Government Committee as amended on February 18, 2011.

HB 402, Rep. Rosendale (R), HD 38, Glendive: “An act providing that sand and gravel operation may not be prohibited under certain circumstances in an area zoned as residential.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 21, line 8-11

Action: Bill scheduled for 2nd Reading on House floor on February 18, 2011.

PRIVATE LANDS:

SB 35, Sen. Hamlett (R), HD 10, Cascade: “An act revising and clarifying laws related to the treatment of property consisting of the beds of navigable rivers and defining “navigable rivers.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 24, line 82-85

Action: Bill was referred to House Natural Resources on February 11, 2011.

SB 164, Sen. Hawks (D), HD 33, Bozeman: “An act revising the contents of growth policies for counties and consolidated city-county governments that have certain rivers within their jurisdictions, providing conservation measures for those rivers.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 23, line 46-47

Action: Bill was tabled in Senate Local Government Committee on February 1, 2011.

HB 309, Rep. Welborn (R), HD 72, Dillon: “An act clarifying the prohibition of recreational use of water diverted from a natural water body by a constructed water conveyance system.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 22-23, line 24-28

Action: Bill was referred to Senate Livestock, Agriculture, and Irrigation Committee on February 11, 2011.

HB 290, Rep. Sesso (D), HD 76, Butte: “An act prohibiting the restriction of public access on certain roads or rights-of-way used by the public unless certain requirements are met.”

Position: Oppose

Policy:  pg. 23, line 29-34

Action: Bill was tabled in House Transportation Committee on February 7, 2011.

SB 347, Sen. Lake (R), SD 44, Hamilton: “An act revising the private property assessment act, clarifying and expanding the duties of state agency actions regarding property that may have taking or damaging implications, requiring notice of proposed agency actions to the public and interested persons.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 22, line 1-5

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Judiciary Committee on February 18, 2011.

SB 344, Sen. Priest (R), SD 30, Red Lodge: “An act establishing the Montana Property Fairness Act, defining terms, requiring a governmental entity to compensate a property owner if the government agency’s action results in taking or damaging the property by diminishing the property’s fair market value.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 22, line 1-5

Action:  Bill was heard in Senate Judiciary Committee on February 18, 2011.

SB 298, Sen. Vincent (R), SD 1, Libby: “An act providing that a governing body may not deny a proposed subdivision based solely on a certain wildland-urban interface designation.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 22, line 14-17

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Local Government Committee on February 18, 2011.

PUBLIC LANDS:

HJ 4, Rep. Peterson (R), HD 46, Billings: “A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Montana opposing the designation of National Monuments in Montana without the consent of the Montana Legislature and Governor.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 27, line 61-65

Action: Bill was concurred in Senate Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation Committee on February 15, 2011.

SJ 6, Sen. Olson (R), SD 23, Roundup: “A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Montana urging the U.S. Congress and President of the United States to expedite the Federal Land Use decision processes in Montana, to recognize the importance of traditional multiple resources uses on federal lands, not impose restrictions on additional federal lands or minerals and to support federal legislation that places checks and balances on the President’s power to declare National Monuments.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 27, line 87-88

Action: Resolution was transmitted to House as amended on February 4, 2011.

SB 303, Sen. Brenden (R), SD 13, Scobey: “An act requiring approval of the Board of Land Commissioners for land purchases, providing that to the extent of practical and consistent with the Board of Land Commissioners’ powers and duties, land purchases may not result in a net gain in land ownership by the State and providing an exemption for certain fishing accesses.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 27-28, line 96-99

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Local Government Committee on February 16, 2011.

HB 541, Rep. Welborn (R), HD 72, Dillon: “An act prohibiting the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks from regulating domestic livestock trailing as a commercial activity and exempting domestic livestock trailing from MEPA.”

Position: Support

Policy:  pg. 26, line 90-91

Action: Bill was heard in House Agriculture Committee on February 17, 2011.

EMINENT DOMAIN:

HB 240, Rep. Flynn (R), HD 68, Townsend: “An act revising eminent domain laws, clarifying the rejection process of a condemnor’s final written claim, the facts necessary for condemnation, clarifying the process for award of litigation expenses, and establishing mandatory appraisal, negotiation, and other condemnation policies.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 28, line 11-19

Action: Bill was passed House Judiciary Committee as amended on February 16, 2011.

HB 198, Rep. Peterson (R), HD 46, Billings: “An act clarifying a public utility’s power of eminent domain and clarifying that a person issued a certificate under the Major Facility Siting Act has the power of eminent domain.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 28, line 1-3, pg. 1-5

Action: Bill was referred to Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee on February 12, 2011.

HB 466, Rep. Osmundson (R), HD 29, Buffalo: “An act requiring a person who plans to apply for a certificate under the Major Facility Siting Act to prepare a public participation plan, requiring notice of the plan’s availability, and requiring the public participation plan to be implemented.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 28, line 1-3

Action: Bill was heard in House Federal Relations, Energy and Transportation Committee on February 14, 2011.

HB 583, Rep. Regier (R), HD 5, Kalispell: “An act determining procedures to be undertaken prior to condemnation in accordance with eminent domain laws, establishing criteria for an appraisal conducted pursuant to eminent domain laws, requiring the condemnor to make a deposit with the court before proceedings continue, and allowing condemnees to access the deposit.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 28, line 1-3

Action: Bill was heard in House Judiciary Committee on February 18, 2011.

PUBLIC UTILITIES:

HB 503, Rep. Wilmer (D), HD 64, Bozeman: “An act generally revising laws regarding excavations near underground facilities, creating an underground utility safety board, allocating the board to the Department of Labor and Industry, and establishing the board’s duties and responsibilities.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 29, line 31-33

Action: Bill was heard in House Federal Relations, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee on February 16, 2011.

LIVESTOCK:

HB 54, Rep. Vance (R), HD 67, Bozeman: “An act defining “order” and “program” with respect to orders issued by the Department of Livestock that it considers necessary or proper to prevent to introduction or spreading of infectious diseases affecting livestock and alternative livestock.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 30, line 49-50

Action: Bill was returned to House as amended on February 15, 2011.

SB 144, Sen. Brenden (R), SD 18, Scobey: “An act prohibiting the Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, from relocating wild bison or allowing free roaming bison in Montana and providing an exception to the prohibition from relocation.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 30, line 51-57 & pg. 41, line 105-106

Action: Bill scheduled for 3rd Reading on Senate Floor on February 18, 2011.

SB 207, Sen. Moore (R), SD 20, Miles City: “An act clarifying the regulation of the wild and domestic buffalo or bison as livestock, making buffalo and bison subject to estray laws, granting rulemaking authority to establish a permit and inspection system for the transportation of buffalo or bison.

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 30-31, line 54-57

Action:  Bill passed Senate Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation Committee as amended on February 15, 2011.

HB 482, Rep. Phillips (D), HD 66, Bozeman: “An act clarifying conservation and management responsibilities of the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for wild buffalo or bison in Montana.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 30-31, line 55-57

Action: Bill was heard in House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee on February 17, 2011.

ZOONOTIC DISEASES:

HB 331, Rep. Howard (R), HD 60, Park City: “An act requiring that livestock owners be protected by the state from economic loss for brucellosis-related costs for animals that have been determined to be infected with brucellosis and that are destroyed as a sanitary safeguard.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 33, line 24-30

Action: Bill was referred to House Appropriations Committee on February 16, 2010.

SB 237, Sen. Arthun (R), SD 31, Wilsall: “An act providing authority for testing and prevalence reduction of brucellosis in livestock and wildlife, establishing responsibility for testing cost and rulemaking authority.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 33, line 24-30

Action: Bill passed Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee as amended on February 15, 2011.

FIELD CROPS:

SB 218, Sen. Steinbeisser (R), SD 19, Sidney: “An act establishing procedures for sampling plants protected by patent or other intellectual property laws, requiring mediation of claims involving patented plants, and providing rulemaking authority.”

Position:  Support

Policy: pg. 34, line 41-44

Action:  Bill was transmitted to House on February 8, 2011.

SB 195, Sen. Ripley (R), SD 9, Wolf Creek: “An act revising laws relating to the Montana Seed Laboratory, creating a seed laboratory advisory board, and allowing the laboratory to determine appropriate fees for the costs of seed analysis.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 33-34, line 7-8

Action:  Bill was transmitted to House on February 10, 2011.

SB 300, Sen. Hamlett (D), SD 10, Cascade: “An act providing for the selection of members of the Wheat and Barley Committee and establishing procedures for selection.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 34, line 45-50

 

MARKETING AND BARGAINING:

 

SB 74, Sen. Steinbeisser (R), SD 19, Sidney: “An act conforming certain terms regarding the financial status of commodity dealers and commodity warehouse operators to terms used in generally accepted accounting principles; revising and clarifying the licensing requirements for commodity dealers; and allowing for full or 100{b5a992b8e63762954627fabd02ae0ce4cbdce5a7319b086354586c608f95fa42} bonding by a commodity dealer of commodities purchased on contract.”

Position: Support

Action: Bill was referred to House Agriculture Committee on February 5, 2011.

 

SB 277, Sen. Moore (R), SD 20, Miles City: “An act clarifying that the Beef Check-Off be paid only on cattle sold, limiting the fee chargeable by the Department of Livestock for collecting the National Beef Check-Off, and requiring Legislative Auditor to audit the Department of Livestock’s direct cost for collect check-off.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 35, line 277

Action: Bill passed Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee as amended on February 15, 2011.

HB 476, Rep. Hollandsworth (R), HD 28, Brady: “An act creating a landlord’s lien against the crops produced on real property rented or leased to another person by the landlord and clarifying the priority of certain liens.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 36, line 56-59

Action: Bill was heard in House Agriculture Committee on February 17, 2011.

SB 339, Sen. Moore (R), SD 20, Miles City: “An act revising the fertilizer and pesticide lien laws, establishing an exception to the priority of certain liens.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 36, line 56-59

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation Committee on February 17, 2011.

HB 443, Rep. Burnett (R), HD 63, Bozeman: “An act asserting Montana’s sovereignty and the state’s right to regulate the manufacture, production, sale or giving of food intended to remain in this state and not intended to enter interstate commerce.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 36, line 86-86

Action: Bill was heard in House Business and Labor Committee on February 18, 2011.

WEED CONTROL:

HB 133, Rep. Salomon (R), HD 12, Ronan: “An act revising and clarifying the processes and requirements relating to the control of noxious weeds, authorizing a weed control board to seek a court order to manage noxious weeks and providing for civil penalties for failure to control noxious weeds.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 37, line 11-14

Action: Bill was transmitted to Senate on February 17, 2011.

FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS:

HB 151, Rep. Washburn (R), HD 69, Bozeman: “An act revising laws relating to special elk permits.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 40, line 59-60

Action: Bill was tabled in House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee on January 28, 2011.

SB 108, Sen. Barrett (R), SD 36, Dillon: “An act requiring consultation and coordination with county governments in proposed state and federal policy decisions regarding large predators and large game species.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 40, line 68-69

Action: Bill was referred to House Local Government Committee on February 9, 2011.

HB 286, Rep. Clark (R), HD 17, Choteau: “An act revising laws related to wildlife population management funding.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 40-41, line 74-76

Action: Bill was heard in House Agriculture Committee on January 25, 2011.

HB 272, Rep. Flynn (R), HD 68, Townsend: “An act prohibiting the use of hunting access enhancement fees for fee title land acquisition.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 39, line 18

Action: Bill was referred to Senate Fish and Game Committee on February 9, 2011.

SB 212, Sen. Ripley (R), HD 9, Wolf Creek: “An act clarifying the authority of the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to manage wild buffalo or bison; eliminating rulemaking authority; requiring a management plan before wild buffalo or bison may be released or transplanted onto public or private land.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 41, line 105-106

Action: Bill passed Senate Fish and Game Committee as amended on February 15, 2011.

SB 174, Sen. Vuckovich (D), SD 43, Anaconda: “An act prohibiting the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks from expending any funds on the relocation or transplantation of wild buffalo or bison on the Spotted Dog Wildlife Management Area.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 41, line 105-106

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Fish and Game Committee on February 1, 2011.

HB 345, Rep. Flynn (R), HD 68, Townsend: “An act increasing landowner compensation for the Block Management program, changing criteria for determining compensation and linking future compensation to the Consumer Price Index.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 40, line 63-64

Action: Bill passed House Agriculture Committee on February 8, 2011.

HB 363, Rep. Cuffe (R), HD 2, Eureka: “An act establishing the use of fees collected from the sale of wolf hunting licenses, establishing the wolf management account, and authorizing the transfer of funds.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 42, line 135-137

Action: Bill passed House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as amended on February 15, 2011.

SB 255, Sen. Brenden (R), SD 18, Scobey: “An act requiring the FWP Commission to follow certain criteria for making decisions relating to the opportunity to fish, trap or hunt.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 40, line 48-49

Action: Bill passed Senate Fish and Game Committee as amended on February 15, 2011.

SB 301, Sen. Ripley (R), SD 9, Wolf Creek: “An act enacting a moratorium on the purchase of land in fee by the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks until July 1, 2015.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 39, line 1-2, & 18

Action: Bill passed Senate Fish and Game Committee as amended on February 17, 2011.

HB 454, Rep. Connell (R), HD 87, Corvallis: “An act requiring that at least 20{b5a992b8e63762954627fabd02ae0ce4cbdce5a7319b086354586c608f95fa42} of the lands or waters acquired by the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks be managed for multiple use purposes.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 39, line 15-17

Action: Bill was heard in House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee on January 15, 2011.

ENDANGERED SPECIES:

HJ 1, Rep. Milburn (R), HD 19, Cascade: “A joint resolution of the Senate and House of the State of Montana urging the United States Congress and the President to approve federal legislation that would result in the immediate removal of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List in Montana.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 42, line 26-28

Action: Bill was referred to Senate Fish and Game Committee on February 1, 2011.

SB 143, Sen. Barrett (R), HD 36, Dillon: “An act revising Montana grizzly bear policy to avoid conflicts with humans and livestock.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 42, line 18-23

Action: Bill was referred to House Agriculture Committee on February 11, 2011.

HB 287, Rep. Clark (R), HD 17, Choteau: “An act authorizing the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to make wolf carcasses retrieved during wolf management activities available to the Livestock Loss, and Mitigation Board, and authorizing the Board to sell them to benefit the Livestock Loss, Reduction and Mitigation Program.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 43, line 41-42

Action: Bill was transmitted to Senate on February 15, 2011.

HB 469, Rep. Clark (R), HD 17, Choteau: “An act clarifying and simplifying the name of Livestock Loss Reduction and Mitigation Board.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 43, line 43-46

Action: Bill passed House Agriculture Committee on February 15, 2011.

SJ 13, Sen. Facey (D), SD 48, Missoula: “A joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Montana stating that gray wolves in Montana re best managed according to a state plan and that working with Wyoming and Idaho is critically important to ensuring that the gray wolf be removed from the Endangered Species List.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 42-43, line 26-28

Action: Bill was heard in Senate Fish and Game Committee on February 17, 2011.

TRANSPORTATION:

HB 273, Rep. Melhoff (D), HD 26, Great Falls: “An act allowing for the operation of off-highway vehicles on certain public roads when authorized by a local government.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 46, line 76-77

Action: Bill was referred to Senate Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation Committee as amended on February 12, 2011.

RESEARCH:

SB 168, Sen. Van Dyk (D), SD 25, Billings: “An act eliminating the Economic Development Advisory Council, the Grant Review Committee, and the Board of Research and Commercialization Technology and transferring their duties and rulemaking authority to the Department of Commerce.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 46, line 1-3

Action: Bill scheduled for 3rd Reading on Senate floor on February 18, 2011.

HB 323, Rep. Swanson (D), HD 68, Anaconda: “An act revising the membership of the board of Research and Commercialization, providing the Governor with authority to appoint all members of the board, and requiring the Department of Commerce to provide necessary staffing.”

Position: Oppose

Policy: pg. 46, line 1-3

Action: Bill was tabled in House Business and Labor Committee on February 3, 2011.

HB 439, Rep. Hollenbaugh (D), HD 81, Helena: “An act authorizing state debt through general obligation bond, supporting agriculture experiment stations and agricultural laboratories.”

Position: Support

Policy: pg. 46, line 1-3

Action: Bill was heard in House Appropriations Committee on February 16, 2011.

 

By Montana Senator, Taylor Brown

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