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House committee backs statewide river-use census after amendment clarifying funding
Summary
The Montana House Committee of the Whole voted to recommend House Bill 762, a two-year river‑use census covering roughly 966 miles across 16 rivers, after adopting an amendment that clarified the funding source; the bill was later rereferred to the Appropriations Committee.
House Republicans and Democrats in the Committee of the Whole recommended House Bill 762 do pass after adopting an amendment that clarified the bill’s funding source and deleted a second, unintended funding tap. Representative Secondure, the bill sponsor, described the measure as a two‑year, statewide river‑use census designed to produce week‑by‑week, river‑by‑river counts and user‑type breakdowns, including private and commercial use and categories such as fishing and general recreation.
The bill’s sponsor said the study would establish a baseline of use to inform future regulatory debates and local planning. “In recent sessions, we've seen various proposals aimed at regulating river traffic, often based on anecdotal observations rather than comprehensive data,” Representative Secondure said, arguing the report would provide a “valuable resource for future policy discussions.”
Supporters, including Representative Powers, argued that comprehensive data is needed to manage popular river corridors and ongoing local planning efforts such as comprehensive river management plans. Critics questioned the cost and value. Representative Fielder said he found the estimated $2.7 million fiscal note for a boat survey “seems like an awful lot of money” and said he was not convinced of the value returned by that expenditure.
The committee adopted Representative Secondure’s amendment clarifying the funding source by voice and recorded votes on absentee tallies; the amendment passed with 95 ayes and 4 no votes as recorded. On the final committee recommendation the clerk recorded 67 ayes and 32 noes and House Bill 762 passed second reading in committee. Later in the floor session Majority Leader Fitzpatrick moved to rerefer House Bill 762 to the Appropriations Committee; the motion to rerefer was entered without objection.
Discussion: The debate in committee focused on (1) the scope—16 rivers covering roughly 966 miles; (2) data detail—week‑by‑week breakdowns and private vs. commercial split; and (3) cost, with members sharply divided about the $2.6–$2.7 million estimate. Representative Secondure said Fish, Wildlife and Parks plans to staff up to do the work rather than hand it to a university. Representative Konauer emphasized the study is “a one‑shot deal” to produce data local user groups and legislators can use.
Action: Committee recommendation to pass (67–32), amendment passed (95–4). Floor motion later rereferred the bill to Appropriations (no recorded opposition on the floor motion). The measure remains in the legislative process pending Appropriations review.
The committee record shows supporters included fishing guides and outfitters in committee testimony; opponents raised concerns about cost and potential for the data to be used to limit specific user groups.
Looking ahead: The bill will be considered by the Appropriations Committee following the floor’s rereferral motion.
