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Committee hears bill to add domestic bison to Livestock Loss Program
Summary
At an Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee hearing, Representative Eric Tillman presented House Bill 504 to add domestic bison to Montana’s Livestock Loss Program; producers and farm groups supported the change, witnesses cited USDA and USFWS valuation/confirmation processes, and the committee concluded the hearing with no vote while amendments were expected.
Representative Eric Tillman, sponsor of House Bill 504, told the Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee that the bill would add domestic bison to the state Livestock Loss mitigation program and that a technical amendment is expected to refine how bison are valued for reimbursement.
Tillman, who said he represents House District 23 (the south side of Great Falls), described current per-capita rates for other animals and the bill’s effect in simple terms: “we're only adding 2 little, lines in here,” and “1 is adding domestic bison to the Livestock Loss Board.” He told members the Department of Livestock fiscal note showed only three potential bison claims over the past five years and estimated roughly $3,600 per loss under the current draft language.
Three proponents testified in support. Mr. Stubblefield of the Montana Bison Association described a personal loss when a young bull was attacked by a grizzly and said the animal “meant $5,000 to us,” arguing that bison producers should have the same access to compensation as cattle and sheep producers. Karli Johnson of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation explained how the program works: ranchers contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for depredation confirmation, the Department of Livestock administers compensation, and payments are set using USDA market reports. Jasmine Krotkov of the Montana Farmers Union said the Livestock Loss Board is allocated $450,000 annually, uses an average of $251,000 per year and maintains a $300,000 reserve, and she said adding bison should not jeopardize funding.
Committee members probed valuation and scope. Several members asked whether USDA tracks bison market values; witnesses confirmed USDA publishes bison pricing and that bison often track beef prices but on a much smaller market. Representative Tillman said he would amend the bill to rely on Department of Livestock or market-based valuation rather than his initial placeholder formula (which used a multiple of registered cattle prices).
Law and tribal participation also arose. The sponsor said tribal producers are eligible through agreements and that tribes on reservations may participate without paying per-capita fees where the Livestock Loss Board has entered agreements; he cited statutory text in committee discussion describing how the board may enter agreements with tribes that have adopted relevant predator management plans.
On retroactivity, Tillman said he was hesitant to make the change retroactive, noting doing so could open past losses to claims and that he preferred establishing coverage going forward. The committee did not take a vote on the bill at the hearing; the sponsor signaled an amendment was forthcoming and the hearing record was closed with the chair stating HB 504 “is concluded.”
The committee also briefly discussed an amendment to an alfalfa seed growers bill and scheduled follow-up work; members were told to expect the sponsor to circulate amendment language by email. No committee vote on HB 504 was recorded at the hearing, and members indicated the bill will return with revised valuation language before further action.
