House committee debates Fish, Wildlife & Parks funding for hunter education, nongame programs and genetics research

Lawmakers in the Montana House Appropriations Committee debated several amendments tied to Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) during executive action on House Bill 2, Section C, with votes on restoring hunter education staff, trimming nongame and wildlife programs and funding genetic and fish-health research.

The most immediate debate came over an amendment to restore DP801, which would add seven positions in FWP’s Communications and Education Division and budget $233,628 in state special and $700,882 in federal funds for the biennium to support hunter and boating safety, licensing help and regional office customer service. Representative Betsy Powers, the amendment sponsor, said the positions would “enhance regional customer service, expand outdoor education programs like boating safety and hunter education and support regional offices during peak seasons.” Powers noted the funding would not come from the general fund but from state special accounts and federal matches tied to licenses and entries.

Quentin Kujala, chief of conservation policy…