Senate Fish and Game Committee advances package of hunting and wildlife bills, including revocation measure

The Montana Senate Fish and Game Committee on Tuesday advanced a slate of bills affecting hunting access, license fees and wildlife management, voting to concur in several House measures and passing a reconsidered bill that would impose license revocations for some criminal trespass convictions.

Committee staff summarized each measure before votes. HB 763, which revises block management and the hunting access statute, allows the department to set flat‑rate landowner fees instead of tracking days, permits commission exemptions from day‑tracking and caps some agreements at $25,000 per year. An amendment requiring notification of adjacent landowners, consideration of overlapping public‑access agreements and a mechanism for adjacent leaseholders to support or object was added and approved by voice vote. "The amendment adds adjacent‑landowner notification and clarity around adjacent public access agreements," said Casey Palliser, committee staff, explaining the changes.

HB 817, which would allow the department to issue free elk, deer or antelope tags and a conservation license to a person age 18 with a life‑threatening illness recommended by a Montana charity or nonprofit, was also concurred in after proponents described exemptions for hunter‑education and rule‑making authority.

The committee reconsidered HB 354 because a prior conceptual amendment changed a required revocation to discretionary language that staff said conflicted with the bill title. Debate centered on whether revocation of hunting, fishing or trapping privileges after a criminal trespass conviction should be mandatory or left to judicial discretion. "I still don't like the 'must' in there — I think it should be left up to the judge," said Senator Hertz during debate. Supporters argued that a conviction should carry accountability; supporters said the measure would protect private landowners and reinforce responsible outdoor behavior. The committee recorded a roll‑call vote and passed the bill on reconsideration (tally recorded in committee minutes as 6 yes, 5 no).

Other executive actions included:

- HB 145: Revises the base nonresident hunting license cost and the portion earmarked for hunting access programs; staff noted prior amendments and committee changes to the fee figures before the committee concurred in the bill. Committee materials trace the base fee through multiple committee amendments before it stood at the figure members debated.

- HB 242: Increases fines for aquatic invasive species (AIS) violations and restores an exception permitting no penalty where clear signage is not posted at a reasonable distance from a check station; committee proponents cited long‑running partnerships and the need for enforcement tools.

- HB 554: Strikes certain language and directs post‑delisting management of wolves; the bill was concurred in by recorded vote.

- HB 648: Adjusts notification requirements for relocation or release of large predators, with revised notice language adopted in committee; it was concurred in unanimously.

Where recorded, votes were taken by roll call or voice and proxies were recorded as noted in committee minutes. The committee generally moved the bills to the Senate floor with carriers identified for floor action. The committee adjourned after completing the EAs and scheduled no meeting on Thursday due to a late floor session.

What happens next: Most bills will head to the full Senate for consideration; sponsors or carriers will present them on the floor. For bills that passed by narrow margins in committee, final floor votes will determine their fate.