Committee introduces bill to add "possible" category for wolf, grizzly depredation payments

Representative Gerald Raymond asked the Resources and Conservation Committee to introduce RS32058, a technical and substantive change to livestock depredation payments that would add a third category — "possible" — for losses believed but not proven to be caused by wolves or grizzly bears.

Raymond, who said he represents District 31 (Clark, Fremont, Jefferson and Lehi counties), told the committee that last year’s House Bill 592 created payment opportunities for livestock producers whose animals were killed by wolves or grizzlies. "This is a slight change to that piece of legislation," Raymond said, adding the bill replaces the word "validate" with "confirm" and establishes "possible" as an additional avenue of payment.

The change from "validate" to "confirm," Raymond said, aligns the statute’s language with how state investigators describe case outcomes — "confirm" indicating the outcome of an investigation rather than simply that an investigation occurred. Raymond said the bill would leave the "confirmed" and "probable" categories in place and add "possible" for cases where a carcass and nearby sign suggest a predator kill but evidence is not sufficient to determine species definitively. "We're calling that, in this piece of legislation we're calling it a possible," Raymond said.

Raymond provided figures the committee said reflect claims against available revenues to date: approximately $40,000 for confirmed claims, about $7,000 for probable claims, and a hypothetical $30,000 for possible claims if that category had existed. He said all payments would be prorated based on revenue available.

Representative Miller asked whether the bill defines "possible," referencing language on page 2. Raymond said he did not find an immediate definition in the draft and offered to "dig into that" and return with clarification at a full hearing. The committee did not resolve the definitional question at the introductory vote.

A motion to introduce RS32058 was made and, after discussion closed, the committee voted by voice. "All in favor of introducing this resolution, please respond by saying 'aye'," the chair said; members answered and the chair recorded the ayes as carrying the motion. The chair cast a vote in support and the resolution was introduced for further consideration.

The measure will return to the committee for a full hearing, where staff said they would provide statutory language, the committee may consider a formal definition of "possible," and members will have a chance to review the Department of Lands report on the Good Neighbor Authority that committee staff had placed in the committee OneDrive.