Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB767: Revise county predator control laws to include goats
Status: Signed into law, May 13, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising county predator control laws to include goats; authorizing county commissioners to establish a predatory animal control program for the protection of goats; authorizing a per capita license fee on goats; revising county predator control laws to align the age threshold of per capita annual assessment of livestock; providing for the deposit of proceeds from the sale of predatory animal skins taken; providing for local goat owners to petition for and make recommendations to the predatory animal control program; providing definitions…
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING COUNTY PREDATOR CONTROL LAWS TO INCLUDE GOATS; AUTHORIZING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ESTABLISH A PREDATORY ANIMAL CONTROL PROGRAM FOR THE PROTECTION OF GOATS; AUTHORIZING A PER CAPITA LICENSE FEE ON GOATS; REVISING COUNTY PREDATOR CONTROL LAWS TO ALIGN THE AGE THRESHOLD OF PER CAPITA ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF LIVESTOCK; PROVIDING FOR THE DEPOSIT OF PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF PREDATORY ANIMAL SKINS TAKEN; PROVIDING FOR LOCAL GOAT OWNERS TO PETITION FOR AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PREDATORY ANIMAL CONTROL PROGRAM; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 81-7-303 AND 81-7-603, MCA. Section 1. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 through 5], the following definitions apply: (1) "Owners" or "persons" include natural persons, partnerships, corporations, trusts, and estates. (2) "Predatory animal" has the meaning provided in 81-7-101. Section 2. County commissioners authorized to establish predatory animal control program for protection of goats. On the recommendation of an organized association of goat producers in the county, the board of county commissioners may, either alone or in conjunction with the county commissioners of other counties, establish a predatory animal control program for the protection of goats in the county or counties. Section 3. County commissioners permitted to require per capita license fee on goats. (1) To defray the expense of protection, the board of county commissioners may require all owners or persons in possession …