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Committee tables bill that would repeal state authorization for killing predatory hawks and owls
Summary
The House Agriculture Committee tabled House Bill 73, which would repeal a Montana statute authorizing livestock or poultry owners to destroy predatory hawks and owls; members debated conflicts with federal law and potential federal penalties before voting 11–6 to table the bill.
The House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday tabled House Bill 73, which would repeal a Montana Code Annotated provision authorizing livestock or poultry owners to destroy predatory hawks and owls.
Ms. Shirley, the committee clerk, summarized HB73 as a Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks request that would "repeal Montana Code Annotated Section... removing the state's authorization of the destruction of predatory hawks and owls by livestock or poultry owners."
A member moved that the bill "do pass." Vice Chair Carter supported the motion, saying the current Montana statute "conflicts with federal statute" and that the repeal would clean up that conflict. Representative Griffith also spoke, emphasizing the potential legal risk under federal law and urging a cost-benefit approach. He read aloud federal citations and penalties and said, "we want Montanans to be able to take a stand against the feds... but I have to do the cost benefit analysis," and ultimately stated he would vote yes.
Representative Clacken then moved to table the bill. The committee took a roll-call vote; the clerk read members' votes and announced the motion to table carried with 11 yes and 6 no. The chair declared House Bill 73 tabled by the committee.
The transcript records members' roll-call answers as read by the clerk. The committee did not adopt the repeal; tabling leaves the bill inactive in committee.
