Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB235: Revising landowner preference qualifications for elk to require finalized land ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land
Status: Signed into law, May 8, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising qualifications for landowner-preference elk licenses; requiring ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land to qualify for special permits; eliminating being under contract to purchase 640 acres or more of contiguous land as a qualification for special permits; defining "employee"; amending sections 87-2-516 and 87-2-705, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING QUALIFICATIONS FOR LANDOWNER-PREFERENCE ELK LICENSES; REQUIRING OWNERSHIP OF 640 ACRES OR MORE OF CONTIGUOUS LAND TO QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL PERMITS; ELIMINATING BEING UNDER CONTRACT TO PURCHASE 640 ACRES OR MORE OF CONTIGUOUS LAND AS A QUALIFICATION FOR SPECIAL PERMITS; DEFINING "EMPLOYEE"; AMENDING SECTIONS 87-2-516 AND 87-2-705, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Section 87-2-516, MCA, is amended to read: "87-2-516. Drawing for Class A-9 and Class B-12 antlerless elk B tag licenses -- landowner preference. (1) In the event the number of valid applications for Class A-9 resident antlerless elk B tag licenses or Class B-12 nonresident antlerless elk B tag licenses for a hunting district exceeds the quota set by the department for the district, the department shall award the permits by a drawing. (2) Subject to the limitations of subsection (4), in a hunting district where Class A-9 and Class B-12 licenses are issued, a corresponding Class A-9 or B-12 license must be issued, on application, to persons who: (a) own or have contracted to purchase 640 acres or more of contiguous land, at least some of which is used by elk as documented by the department; or (b) own 160 acres or more of contiguous production agricultural land on which the department documented elk game damage within the last 2 years. …
Sponsors
- Bogner, Kenneth (R, 18) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading House Amendments
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments
Votes
- Do Pass (April 12, 2025): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 11, 2025): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 9, 2025): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 8, 2025): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 21, 2025): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass As Amended (February 19, 2025): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Property, Fish, Rule Making
Common questions
- What is SB235?
- SB235 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revising landowner preference qualifications for elk to require finalized land ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land.
- What does SB235 do?
- In its own words: An act revising qualifications for landowner-preference elk licenses; requiring ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land to qualify for special permits; eliminating being under contract to purchase 640 acres or more of contiguous land as a qualification for special permits; defining "employee"; amending sections 87-2-516 and 87-2-705, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of SB235?
- Signed into law as of May 8, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 8, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB235?
- Bogner, Kenneth (R, 18).
- Where is the official record for SB235?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0749
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.