Committee advances bill to align depredation language, allow limited payments for probable livestock kills

Senator Van Burchaw, District 31, presented House Bill 82 to the Idaho Senate Natural Resources Committee and said the bill would change statutory wording to match federal Wildlife Services classifications and allow limited compensation for depredations classified as "probable" when funds remain in the state account.

The bill’s sponsor told the committee that federal funding is triggered by a "confirmed" depredation and that other categories such as "probable" currently do not qualify for automatic federal reimbursement. The proposed changes replace several uses of the word "confirmed" with language that matches U.S. Wildlife Services’ validation terminology and would permit payment of up to 75% on claims categorized as probable if the depredation account retains funds after confirmed claims are paid.

Ellery Tucker Williams, legislative and community engagement coordinator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, testified in support on behalf of the Fish and Game Commission. Tucker Williams told the committee, "Conflicts between livestock producers, wolves, and grizzly bears is not a new issue to the state of Idaho." She said the bill would "align terminology in that reimbursement program with that used by Wildlife Services in their investigations" and, if funding allows, permit compensation for depredations deemed possible or probable.

Nick Fasiano, executive director of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, also testified in support. Fasiano said that grizzly bears can leave little physical evidence at kill sites and that "when that happens, the risk is there" that investigators cannot obtain the proof required for a confirmed classification. He called the bill "a reasonable step to help keep producers whole."

Committee members asked about funding sources. The sponsor and witnesses said the reimbursable payments are funded through the program established in House Bill 592, which created a state fund for conflict prevention and livestock depredation, with roughly $150,000 available for depredation payments and $75,000 for preventative measures such as fencing. The sponsor said the depredation account balance was about $25,000 last year and about $90,000 in February 2024, and cautioned it could be depleted quickly.

After testimony, the committee voted by voice to send House Bill 82 to the Senate floor with a recommendation of "due pass." The motion was made by Senator Konowitz and seconded by Senator Guthrie; the transcript records a voice vote with no roll-call tally.

If enacted, the bill would not itself establish new funding but would change statutory language used to determine whether a depredation qualifies for payment and would permit the use of remaining account funds to partially compensate claims categorized as probable or possible.