Montana HB71: Revise special license requirements allowing second lion license and removing Tendoy sheep reporting

What the bill says

A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising laws related to hunting of mountain lions and mountain sheep; revising restrictions on special licenses; allowing more than one mountain lion license to be issued to the same hunter in a license year; eliminating reporting requirements that the department of fish, wildlife, and parks report on harvests and tissue sampling efforts from the tendoy mountain sheep herd; and amending section 87-2-702, mca.".

From the engrossed text:

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO HUNTING OF MOUNTAIN LIONS AND MOUNTAIN SHEEP; REVISING RESTRICTIONS ON SPECIAL LICENSES; ALLOWING MORE THAN ONE MOUNTAIN LION LICENSE TO BE ISSUED TO THE SAME HUNTER IN A LICENSE YEAR; ELIMINATING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PARKS REPORT ON HARVESTS AND TISSUE SAMPLING EFFORTS FROM THE TENDOY MOUNTAIN SHEEP HERD; AND AMENDING SECTION 87-2-702, MCA." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: Section 1. Section 87-2-702, MCA, is amended to read: "87-2-702. Restrictions on special licenses -- availability of bear and mountain lion licenses. (1) A person who has killed or taken any game animal, except a deer, an elk, or an antelope, or a mountain lion, during the current license year is not permitted to receive a special license under this chapter to hunt or kill a second game animal of the same species. (2) The commission may require applicants for special permits authorized by this chapter to obtain a valid big game license for that species for the current year prior to applying for a special permit. (3) Except as provided in 87-2-815, a person may take only one grizzly bear in Montana with a license authorized by 87-2-701. (4) (a) Except as provided in 87-1-271(2), 87-1-275, and …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Maness, Shannon (R, 70) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. May 22, 2025: (S) Died in Committee
2. May 20, 2025: (H) Died in Process
3. April 9, 2025: (H) Missed Deadline for Appropriation Bill Transmittal
4. March 28, 2025: (H) Tabled in Committee
5. March 24, 2025: (H) Hearing
6. March 24, 2025: (H) Hearing Canceled
7. March 21, 2025: (H) Hearing
8. February 13, 2025: (S) Tabled in Committee
9. February 13, 2025: (S) Committee Executive Action
10. February 7, 2025: (S) Hearing

Votes

• Do Pass (January 31, 2025): 85 yea, 14 nay, passed
• Do Pass (January 30, 2025): 89 yea, 11 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB71?

HB71 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise special license requirements allowing second lion license and removing Tendoy sheep reporting.

What does HB71 do?

In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act revising laws related to hunting of mountain lions and mountain sheep; revising restrictions on special licenses; allowing more than one mountain lion license to be issued to the same hunter in a license year; eliminating reporting requirements that the department of fish, wildlife, and parks report on harvests and tissue sampling efforts from the tendoy mountain sheep herd; and amending section 87-2-702, mca.".

What is the status of HB71?

Failed as of May 22, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Committee (May 22, 2025).

Who sponsored HB71?

Maness, Shannon (R, 70).

Where is the official record for HB71?

On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0511