House Bill 73, introduced at the request of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, would repeal Montana Code Annotated section 87-5-209, which currently authorizes livestock or poultry owners to destroy some predatory hawks and owls. Miss Shirley, the committee clerk, summarized the bill at the executive-action session.

Representative Griffith described federal statutes that conflict with the state law and outlined potential criminal penalties under federal law, citing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and related federal provisions. "The federal code sets forth the birds that are actually in the migratory act. That includes every single predatory bird that we have," Griffith said, listing federal statutes and noting potential fines and jail time under federal law.

After discussion, Representative Clacken moved to table the bill. The committee conducted a roll-call vote on the motion to table. The clerk read members' votes; the tally was 11 in favor of tabling and 6 opposed. The committee chair announced that House Bill 73 was tabled.

The committee record lists individual votes during the roll call. Members recorded as voting to table include Representative Smith, Representative Clacken, Representative Oblander, Representative Thill, Representative Tillman, Representative Niklasakos, Representative Darling, Representative Wirth, Representative Kametz, Vice Chair Minor and Chair Mitchell. Members recorded as voting no include Representative Baum, Representative Griffith, Representative Romano, Representative Thain, Representative Lynch (proxy), and Vice Chair Carter. The committee chair announced an 11–6 result and declared HB 73 tabled.

Tabling the bill stops committee consideration for now; the record does not show a committee motion to reconsider the matter during the session.