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Senate committee approves interim study on resident satisfaction with nonresident hunting; assignment moved from agency to legislative staff
Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 17, an interim study of resident hunter satisfaction with nonresident hunting pressure, passed the Senate Fish and Game Committee after an amendment that assigns the study to an interim committee staff rather than directly to Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The Montana Senate Fish and Game Committee on 2025-02-01 approved Senate Joint Resolution 17, an interim study of resident hunter satisfaction with nonresident hunting pressure, after adopting an amendment that strikes the original assignment to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and instead assigns the study to an interim committee staff, most likely the Environmental Quality Council (EQC). The final committee vote on the amended resolution was 7–5.
Sponsor remarks and supporters told the committee that prior hearings produced multiple bills on allocation of hunting opportunity between residents and nonresidents, and that an interim study could help clarify policy options. The amendment removed an original line that would have had the department conduct a “human-dimension” study and replaced it with staff work by the legislative interim committee; the sponsor argued the change was necessary for the item to function as a formal interim study assigned by the Legislative Council.
The amendment passed by voice vote and the committee later approved the resolution as amended in a roll-call vote. Opponents, including Senator Hertz, said a study was unnecessary and that existing statutory tools (reducing nonresident tags or increasing fees) offered direct policy levers; he said, “I don't think we need a study … I know number of resident hunters aren't happy. If you want less nonresidents hunting here, you reduce the number of tags or increase the fee.” Supporters, including Senator Flowers, said the volume of bills on the subject indicated a problem worth studying and that a study bill would not by itself change policy.
The amendment makes the legislative interim staff, not Fish, Wildlife and Parks, responsible for conducting the study in collaboration with any agencies the interim committee deems necessary. Committee members discussed how EQC historically handles assigned studies and staff capacity; one member said EQC typically accepts staff-assigned studies via study bill because of limited staff bandwidth.
Vote and next steps - Amendment to SJR 17 (reassigning the study to interim committee staff) — voice vote passed; amendment recorded as passed. - SJR 17 as amended — roll-call result recorded as 7 yes, 5 no; outcome: passed out of committee to the floor.
The resolution will be scheduled for interim study assignment by the Legislative Council and is likely to be carried by the Environmental Quality Council staff for the interim. Committee members asked for and were promised follow-up information about committee assignments and proxies recorded in the roll-call.
