Committee advances bill to include domestic bison in livestock-loss compensation

Representative Eric Tillman, the bill sponsor, told the House Agriculture Committee that House Bill 504 would expand the Livestock Loss Mitigation Program to cover domestic bison and set bison valuation at the same rate used for commercial cattle.

"This is just expand, expanding the livestock laws, adding domestic life, domestic bison," Representative Eric Tillman said as he opened the hearing. Tillman said the fiscal note showed no outright cost because of program reserves and that claims data over the past five years recorded about three bison losses to wolves or grizzly bears.

The bill drew testimony from bison producers and farm groups. Tye Stubblefield, representing the Montana Bison Association, described a family operation and predator encounters on his ranch: "Our…