Now here’s how you can help!
Senate Bill 442: allow marijuana revenues to be used for county road maintenance - Sponsored by Sen. Mike Lang (R-Malta)
Status: Passed in House Taxation this morning, 17-4
Montana Audubon Position: Support
This bill was dramatically amended in committee last week to reinstate funding for the Habitat Montana program, allocate funds for the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program, and create a “Habitat Legacy” account. After the Habitat Montana account reaches $50 million dollars, the rest of the money will be allocated to conservation projects through WHIP and the Habitat Legacy account. These amendments have drastically shifted the outcomes of the bill, and will be in direct opposition to the appropriations made in HB 669, a bill that would remove all conservation programs from marijuana tax revenue allocations.
ACTION NEEDED: Please call the legislative "switchboard" at 406-444-4800 and encourage your representative to VOTE YES on Senate Bill 442! You can also include a message about how this bill maintains funding for the Habitat Montana program and allocates funds to critical conservation projects while finding a compromise with other interest groups.
Senate Bill 557: revise MEPA relating to litigation - Sponsored by Sen. Mark Noland (R - Bigfork)
Status: Heard in House Natural Resources on 4/14, executive action expected today
Montana Audubon Position: Oppose
Even with Sen. Noland's proposed floor amendment, SB 557 would chill public involvement, eliminate opportunities to hold agencies accountable, and create a pay-to-play approach to engage in the judicial system whenever someone challenges the adequacy of an environmental review document under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). This bill makes the disclosure of impacts and the public’s right to participate in MEPA optional for state agencies such as FWP, DEQ, and DNRC and classifies anyone challenging a MEPA decision by an agency disclose all donors (e.g. members of a non-profit) for the agency to provide a record and pay a very large financial bond before the judicial process takes place to “prove the merits of the case."
ACTION NEEDED THIS WEEK: Please call the legislative "switchboard" at 406-444-4800 and encourage your representative to VOTE NO on House Bill 557! You can also include a message about how this bill removes public involvement in MEPA processes and specifically targets nonprofits that represent large citizen interest groups in proceedings against the State.
House Bill 5: long-range building appropriations - Sponsored by Rep. Mike Hopkins (R - Missoula)
Status: Heard in Senate Finance & Claims on 4/14, awaiting executive action
Montana Audubon Position: Support
This bill contains funding authorization for FWP’s capital projects, including Habitat Montana, Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program, Migratory Bird Program, Bighorn Sheep Auction Funds and Fishing Access Site Acquisition. Funding for these programs comes from sportsmen and women’s license dollars and is earmarked for these programs. Not authorizing them would keep the funds stay in the bank instead of supporting conservation and enhancement of critical wildlife habitat and providing great hunting and fishing access opportunities. Authorization is requested at $12,000,000 to Habitat Montana, $2,500,000 to Upland Game Bird Enhancement, $2,000,000 to Future Fisheries, and $500,000 to the Migratory Bird Wetland Program.
You can use this map HERE to see where funding has been spent near you!
ACTION NEEDED THIS WEEK: Please call the legislative "switchboard" at 406-444-4800 and encourage your senator to VOTE Yes on House Bill 5! The program has maintained bipartisan support for nearly four decades because of mandated requirements that the program be used to conserve wildlife habitat, promote wildlife-friendly agriculture, incentivize private land conservation, and protect open spaces, scenic areas, hunting opportunities, and valuable water resources.
House Bill 372: establish right to hunt in Constitution - Sponsored by Rep. Paul Fielder (R - Thompson Falls)
Status: Heard in Senate Fish & Game on 4/13, executive action expected this week
Montana Audubon Position: Oppose
If HB 372 became law, the ambiguity of “current means and methods” could protect all forms of trapping, including ones that go against fair-chase and sound wildlife management principles. The bill was amended in the first House Committee to clarify that this new right would not supersede water rights for private individuals, but the bill still contains language that elevates harvest as the primary means of managing MT’s wildlife.
More than 700 non-game species would be impacted as an unintended consequence of this bill, and since the legislature allowed the snaring of wolves last year, the use of snares for wolves would also be included. Special interest groups could also challenge wildlife management policy or fees, placing the financial burden on agencies to defend themselves.
Notably, this bill requires 100 combined votes between the House and Senate to pass. If Democrats vote no unanimously in the Senate, holding 3 of the 6 no votes from republicans in the House, this bill dies.
ACTION NEEDED THIS WEEK: Please call the legislative "switchboard" at 406-444-4800 and encourage your senator to VOTE NO on House Bill 372! You can also include a personal message about how hunting, fishing, and trapping can never be the “primary method” of management for the hundreds of non-game species in Montana.
