Senate committee hears bill to codify new split and eligible uses for Trail Stewardship Grant Program

Senator Barry Usher, sponsor of Senate Bill 310, told the Senate Fish and Game Committee that the bill would put into law a funding split for the Trail Stewardship Grant Program and expand the uses of the grant money.

"This bill puts into law the split of the stewardship grant program," Usher said, adding that the change would not raise new money and that "the $9 opt out fee on license plate applications is the primary source of funding for this grant program." Usher said the bill moves the program from an informal 30/30/40 split to a statutory 40% allocation for motorized projects, 40% for nonmotorized projects and 20% for projects that benefit both user groups.

The bill also clarifies eligible expenses. Usher said the funds may be used "for the purchase of trail equipment and maintenance. It can be used for trail construction and maintenance. It can be used for safety education, ethics and economic and feasibility studies." He emphasized the bill "does not raise any additional monies" and is intended to formalize what has been an informal agreement.

Proponents told the committee they support the change and the clarified eligible uses. Fred Bailey, president of the Montana Snowmobile Association, said the change "guarantees that each side gets their fair share of money" and stressed the program helps pay for volunteer-driven work such as trail construction, latrines, parking lots and equipment rentals. Bailey noted the bill includes language allowing one side to apply for unused funds from the other side so "we're not taking money away from anybody." EJ Redding of Citizens for Balanced Use and several individual users described local examples of motorized and nonmotorized groups cooperating to maintain trails.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks assistant administrator Beth Shumate provided data to the committee. She said the program’s first grant allocations went out in calendar year 2021 and that the agency began tracking motorized vs. nonmotorized allocations in 2023. For the 2023 grant cycle Shumate said there were 43 total applications, eight of which were for motorized projects; motorized applicants requested $441,369, just under 30% of the available funds that cycle. For 2024 she said there were 40 applications and 28 projects were funded; again eight were motorized projects requesting roughly $418,000 while nonmotorized requests exceeded available funds. Shumate said she will provide the committee with a fuller breakdown including award locations, funding sources and historic distributions as a follow-up.

Tom Jacobson of the Montana Wildlife Federation testified in opposition, saying his group "very softly opposes the bill" because, in his view, previous cycles had not exhausted the motorized allocation and shifting percentages now may not address underlying need. He urged caution because federal funding shifts could increase reliance on state grants and volunteers.

Committee members pressed staff and witnesses on application notice, award history and eligibility. Shumate said FWP issues a statewide press release when the application cycle opens (typically in November, with a January closing date), posts application materials on the agency website and will provide the committee with the requested historical allocation and applicant data. She told senators that agencies and clubs including the U.S. Forest Service are eligible applicants.

The hearing closed with the sponsor noting stakeholders had met and agreed on a friendly amendment the group planned to propose; no final action on the bill was taken in the committee during this hearing.

Votes at the hearing: none — SB 310 was presented for public comment and committee questions; committee requested follow-up data from FWP.