Blog

Bills Passed

HB 762, River Census Bill

Representative Joshua Seckinger’s bill, HB 762 — An Act Requiring the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to Publish a Biennial River-Use Report – passed the Senate the last week of April and was transmitted to the Governor. Specifically, HB 762 will:

Have FWP publish a biennial public report that shows river use of all watercraft between May 15 and September 15 for Montana’s most heavily-used river stretches;

the report must contain: (i) the number of private canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, tubes, and other similar watercraft each week; (ii) the number of private drift boats, rafts, and other similar watercraft each week; (iii) the number of commercial watercraft used for fishing, outfitting, and guiding each week; (iv) the number of commercial watercraft used for floating, sightseeing, and whitewater rafting each week; and (v) the total number of watercraft each week.

FOAM strongly supported this bill as it is the best first step to responsible recreational management on our rivers.

SR 17
* SR 17 was the Senate Resolution to confirm the Governor-appointed members of the Board of Outfitters. These are:
o Ernest Barker, Augusta, Montana, appointed to serve a term ending June 30, 2028.
o Chris Gentry, Ennis, Montana, appointed to serve a term ending June 30, 2027.
o Matthew Greemore, Twin Bridges, Montana, appointed to serve a term ending June 30, 2025.
o Wagner Harmon, Bainville, Montana, appointed to serve a term ending June 30, 2027.
o John Way, Ennis, Montana, appointed to serve a term ending June 30, 2026.
* FOAM supported SR 17.
* SR 17 passed the Senate and was filed with the Secretary of State the last week of April.

SR 84
* SR 84 was the Senate Resolution to confirm the Governor-appointed Director of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Christy Clark.
* FOAM supports SR 84.
* SR 84 passed the Senate and was filed with the Secretary of State the last week of April.

SB 183
* SB 183 was the bill requiring an outfitter endorsement for guide licensure.
* FOAM strongly supported SB 183. The bill was amended such that outfitter endorsement is required for guides to renew their license.
* SB 183 passed the House and Senate and was transmitted to the Governor for signature the first week of May.

Dead Bills

HB 559, Rest and Rotation
* Brought by Representative Tom France, HB 559 sought to prohibit outfitting for two days each week on stretches of most Montana rivers.
* This bill would have:
o Established commercial fishing, guiding, and outfitting-free days for two days of each week between the third Saturday of May and Labor Day of each calendar year;
o Had FWP set which days of the week the designated stretches of river will be commercial fishing, guiding, and outfitting-free, except that one day must be Saturday;
* FOAM strongly opposed this bill.
* This bill was withdrawn 20 February 2025.

LC 2405
* A bill drafted by Representative Tom France, LC 2405 sought to:
o cap the number of fishing outfitter licenses at the total amount in circulation during the 2024 license year, as well as,
o implemented mandatory reporting of service days and locations for fishing guides and outfitters, and
o Implemented rules specifying and recording what type of license a guide holds.
* FOAM strongly opposed this bill.
* Never introduced, dead.

HB 489
* Introduced by Representative Oblander, HB 489 sought to:
o Revise sales tax laws; and,
o Provide for a Local Option Tax used for property tax relief.
o This bill would tax outfitting or guiding services at up to 4%.
* FOAM strongly opposed this bill.
* Tabled in committee 25 March 2025.

HB 829
* HB 829, introduced by Representative Duram, sought to:
o Generally revise laws related to AIS,
o Requiring AIS awareness training through an online course taking no longer than 30 minutes to complete prior to obtaining one’s AIS prevention pass;
o require all vessel operators – resident and nonresident, motorized and non-motorized – to obtain an AIS prevention pass.
* FOAM strongly opposed this bill as it would have required a 30-minute exam to obtain an AIS prevention pass required when purchasing any fishing license.
* Tabled in committee 25 March 2025.

HB 27
* HB 27, introduced by Representative Essmann, sought to:
o Generally revise eligibility for classification of property as agricultural for property valuation purposes.
o This bill would have excluded activities related to agriculture that are not generally considered agriculture, including activities conducted for commercial purposes including “recreational use primarily for leisure, enjoyment, and outdoor activities…”
* FOAM strongly opposed this bill.
* 2nd Reading not passed as amended, 20 March 2025.

HB 857
* Representative Tom France’s recently introduced HB 857 sought to:
o establish a surcharge for leased hunting or fishing lands of 10% of annual lease payment to be made upon the purchase of a Conservation License;
o requires revenues from the fee be used to fund block management; and,
o provides for revocation of a person’s hunting and fishing privileges for at least 5 years for failing to comply.
* FOAM strongly opposed this bill.
* Tabled in committee 1 April 2025.

Other Bills

HB 242
* AN ACT REVISING FINES FOR ILLEGALLY TRANSPORTING AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES; REMOVING THE OPTION TO ISSUE A WARNING WITHOUT PENALTY; AND AMENDING SECTION 80-7-1014, MCA
* FOAM supported this bill.
* This bill passed the House and Senate and was transmitted to the Governor for signature into law the last week of April.
HB 74
* AN ACT REVISING PRIVATE FISH POND LAWS AND COMMERCIAL TAKE OF FISH; REVISING LICENSING STANDARDS AND THE RENEWAL PROCESS FOR PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL FISH PONDS; REPEALING PADDLEFISH CAVIAR SALES; PROVIDING FOR 8 RECORDKEEPING; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; INCREASING APPLICATION AND RENEWAL FEES; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES
* FOAM supported this bill.
* This bill passed the House in January, passed the Senate in March, and was signed by the Governor into law on 3 April 2025.

Advisory Committee to the Montana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus

We remain a member of the Advisory Committee to the Montana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. Originally founded in 2018, the Caucus now includes 45 Montana Legislators. The Caucus members work in a coordinated effort to protect and promote sportsmen’s traditions in Montana. When signing on to join the Montana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, members must agree to protect the right to hunt, fsh, recreational shoot, and trap for present and future generations of Montanans.