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Senate panel amends, advances bill tightening landowner preference for elk licenses
Summary
The Senate Fish and Game Committee amended and passed SB235, clarifying that qualifying land must be owned (not contracted) and allowing landowner employees to be designated for certain elk licenses; amendment requires elk habitat documentation by the department.
Senate Fish and Game’s executive-action meeting amended and passed Senate Bill 235, tightening the statute that governs landowner preference for certain elk licenses.
Casey, a committee staff member, told the panel that SB235 “revises landowner preference qualifications for certain elk licenses,” removing language that had allowed landowners who were under contract to purchase 640 acres to qualify and specifying that the land must be owned. Casey said the amendment also “adds that elk habitat will be documented by the department” and permits an employee of the landowner, as defined in statute, to be designated to hold the license.
Committee members moved and adopted an amendment (s p 0235Dot001Dot001) to incorporate those clarifications; the amendment was adopted by voice vote and recorded proxy ayes for absent members. The committee then voted to pass SB235 as amended and Chair Logie announced it will move to the Senate floor.
The change narrows eligibility by eliminating a contracted-purchase carve-out and adds two operational requirements: department documentation of elk habitat and explicit authorization for landowner employees to be designated for licenses. The committee did not record extended debate beyond the amendment explanation and the voice vote.
The bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration.
