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Lawmakers advance voluntary Hunters & Anglers Community Fund to support rural towns
Summary
Rep. Tom France's HB 560 would create a voluntary check-off on conservation licenses to fund small grants to rural communities; supporters say it helps ease town-level funding gaps, the Department of Commerce described administrative rules and an early fiscal estimate of roughly $180,000 after start‑up.
Representative Tom France (House District 99) told the committee HB 560 would let hunters and anglers add a voluntary donation when they buy a conservation license to support small grants for rural Montana communities. "When you buy your conservation license, there are a couple of other funds that you can contribute to," France said, and HB 560 would create an additional check‑off option to direct donations to a board‑administered community fund.
Proponents included the Farm Bureau, Farmers Union, outfitters and conservation groups. Karli Johnson of the Montana Farm Bureau said rural communities ‘‘often are in a place where they are fundraising constantly’’ and welcomed a way for visitors to contribute. Department of Commerce Deputy Director Mandy Rambo said the department would use administrative rules to balance grant awards across regions and expects modest revenues: an early estimate presented to the committee suggested roughly $180,000 could be available for grants after the first two years, with an administrative cap reducing the pool to about $162,000.
Representative France fielded questions about distribution formulas, whether donations could go to religious groups (members asked about constitutional limits), and whether the program would affect other check‑offs. France said eligible grantees would be communities under a population threshold (the bill specifies communities under 7,500) and that the bill’s advisory board would recommend grant priorities.
The committee later took a roll‑call vote to advance the bill; the clerk reported 19 ayes and 1 no and the bill will move to the House floor.
