Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB96: Establish working animal protection act
Status: Failed, June 9, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act providing that local governments may not enact an ordinance or resolution to ban the use of working animals or animal enterprise in commerce or service; providing definitions; and amending section 7-1-111, mca.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT PROVIDING THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAY NOT ENACT AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION TO BAN THE USE OF WORKING ANIMALS OR ANIMAL ENTERPRISE IN COMMERCE OR SERVICE; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND AMENDING SECTION 7-1-111, MCA." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 and 2], unless the context indicates otherwise, the following definitions apply: (1) "Local government" means a city, county, town, unincorporated municipality or village, or special taxing unit or district and any commission, board, bureau, or other office of the unit. (2) "Working animal" means a nonhuman animal used for the purpose of performing a specific duty or function in commerce or animal enterprise, including without limitation human service, transportation, law enforcement, education, competition, or exhibition. The term does not mean poultry, swine, dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, goats, or other similar nonperformance production enterprise. NEW SECTION. Section 2. Working animal protection -- prohibition. (1) The right to utilize a working animal for the benefit and welfare of the working animal or the individual the working animal serves is guaranteed. (2) A local government may not enact an ordinance or resolution that terminates, bans, effectively bans, or creates an undue hardship relating to the job or use of a working animal or animal …
Sponsors
- Fuller, John (R, 4) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Committee
- : (H) Tabled in Committee
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
- : (H) Referred to Committee
- : (S) Transmitted to House
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (January 31, 2025): 40 yea, 10 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 30, 2025): 38 yea, 11 nay, passed
Subjects: Livestock, Trade Regulations and Competition, Local Government, Agriculture
Common questions
- What is SB96?
- SB96 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Establish working animal protection act.
- What does SB96 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act providing that local governments may not enact an ordinance or resolution to ban the use of working animals or animal enterprise in commerce or service; providing definitions; and amending section 7-1-111, mca.".
- What is the status of SB96?
- Failed as of June 9, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Committee (June 9, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB96?
- Fuller, John (R, 4).
- Where is the official record for SB96?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0569
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.