EMWH LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Legislative Update Mar. 30, 2017

Bill du jour, another serving of the legislative bills...


 


Thanks to those of you taking time to call 444-4800 and or/email comments to legislators about bills. Here is a pic from one of our Bozeman Senators, JP Pomnichowski, processing public comments. Thankfully, we have some responsible legislators that care what Montanans value and take the time to express in the public participation  process.




Public Trust Resources
HB 651 - Oppose - Did not pass 2nd reading.  An act revising laws related to public access projects; creating a public lands access advocate; providing duties; revising use of Wildlife Habitat Funding; providing an appropriation; amending sections 77-1-202 AND 87-1-242, MCA

HB 651 went back to the Committee, yesterday morning, for another attempt at an amendment, brought forward by Rep. Flynn. He likened it to a young horse he had bought that needed some fixing. The amendment passed, then they passed it out of committee. The bill was added to the House Floor Session, evening session, yesterday (29th). The House Motion of Do Pass - 47 Aye and 53 No, motion failed, thankfully.


SB 264 - Oppose - Revising rulemaking for reporting to Board of Outfitters. (reported on 3/15) Passed by House & Senate, signed by President, please email Governor Bullock for a veto.  governor@mt.gov


Trespass and Public Access Bills
SB 170 - Oppose , "An act providing civil penalties for unauthorized operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle over real property; and providing an applicability date." This bill is modifying Title 70 Property, Chapter 16 Rights and Obligations Incidental to Ownership in Real Property, this section defines what property ownership means.
(reported on 3/15 and 3/18) Do Pass Motion - 22 Aye, 26 No, the Do Pass motion failed 2nd reading. Then another senator motioned for a move to Indefinitely postpone SB 170. 32 Aye and 17 No, so SB 170 is Indefinitely Postponed.

This mornings hearing, the SB 170 sponsor bluntly stated, "It's a property rights bill," in his opening.

Legislative Glossary - "Indefinitely postpone: A motion to dispose of a bill without taking an affirmative or negative vote on the bill. A bill that is indefinitely postponed may not be acted on again without a motion to reconsider. Otherwise the bill is treated as if it were killed."

SB 358 - Support - Tabled in Senate Highways and Transportation Committee 3/28, Sen. Cohenour tried a blast motion today which was defeated. Revise laws regarding removal of highway encroachments. This was Sen. Cohenour's version of HB 295, but a little less of a daily fine - $250 a day for illegally blocking a public road.
HB 566 - Oppose - Revise private property notice for trespass, still sitting in House Judiciary since the hearing was cancelled on 3/7. (reported on 2/28)
HB 231 - Opposed private land amendment. Since the amendment text was added back in, restoring private landowners requirement for posting and orange paint, the bill passed to the Senate, where the bill was amended again. It passed its 3rd reading and is now back in the House due to the new residential amendment.   (reported on 2/28 and 2/31)
HB 295 - Support - Tabled in Judiciary Committee, Blast Motion to House on 2/27 failed. Increase fine for gating a public road (reported on 2/11)


Parks Bills
HB 324 - Oppose - Sitting in the Senate Fish & Game since 3/16.  Revise laws related to state parks' administration. This bill unfortunately passed the House, was referred to the Senate Committee and is being heard tomorrow (reported on it on 2/19). Please send your comments to the Senators, addresses below.
HB 454 - Oppose, Did not pass House Floor vote 3/24, probably dead (reported on it 2/23)

Hunting/Sportsmen related
HB 151 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/14 Appropriation for shooting range development program (Reported 2/13)
HB 315 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/21 Revising laws related to nonresident relative hunting and fishing licenses. (reported on 2/5)
HB 318 - Oppose - Tabled on 3/21 Revise nonresident college student big game combination license fee. (reported on 2/5)


Hunting Bills
SB 185 - Oppose - Passed Senate, Hearing before House Fish, Wildlife & Parks on 4/6. Authorize transfer of game to licensed outfitter for inspection purposes.

If you care about accountability, responsibility and transparency involving our public trust resources - please oppose this bill. This bill removes the FWP Commission requirement of certain game hunters, including outfitted/guided hunters of that animal, to have the mandatory inspection, instead transferring the animal over to the outfitter or guide. This can cause conflict for FWP and Enforcement, as to verification of who actually shot the animal. It is against the law for another to use of shoot for a person who purchased a license/tag, especially high profile species.This is  MOGA bill. Here is FWP's Chief of  Enforcement, Dave Loewen opposing statement submitted  at the Hearing.

Please email opposition to Representatives, addresses below.

HB 368 - Oppose - Failed 2nd reading on the 28th. Blast Motion attempted on the 29th, also failed 35 Aye to 64 No. Revise laws related to nonresident hunting.
HB 568 - Oppose - 2nd Reading failed 46 Aye to 54 No on 3/28, Blast Motion on 3/29  also failed 35 Aye to 64 No. Revise laws related to nonresident hunting
HB 96 - Oppose - Failed 2nd reading 2/7, missed deadline for general transmittal 3/1. Revise free elk license/permit for landowner providing free public elk hunting  (reported on 2/5)

Public Lands
HJ 9 - Oppose - Hearing 3/27 Senate Natural Resources,  Resolution supporting the release of certain wilderness study areas.  Please contact the Senators, emails below. (reported 2/19)

Public Water
HB 339  - Oppose - Had a hearing in Senate Natural Resources on the 22nd - Revise laws related to exempt appropriations of water (reported on 2/19)

Please email Senators, addresses below.

Constitutional Amendment
SB 236 - Oppose - Passed the Senate 30 to 20, on the 28th, Transmitted to the House, referred to House Judiciary Committee 3/30. Fielder's Constitutional referendum to safeguard right to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife. Current text. Various suggested text amendments have been proposed, from various sportsmens groups and the Sportsmens Caucus group, but nothing agreed on by all. Which speaks to me, that this bill (or one similar), which affects our Constitution, needs much more work and vetting before going before the legislature in such a rushed manner this year. (reported on 2/15)

Here is a link to former FWP Chief Legal Counsel, Bob Lane's, legal assessment, I post on Hunt Talk forum. It brings up a very important point I had not heard mentioned in this discussion, concerning resident and non-resident licenses, "SB 236 risks Montana’s ability to differentiate between residents and nonresidents in issuing or awarding hunting and fishing licenses. The risk SB 236 poses is significant and unavoidable. Passage of SB 236 could mean that resident and nonresidents will be required to pay the same license fees and compete equally when FWP limits the number of licenses available."

Please email Representatives, addresses below.

CWD
SB's 187 and 173  - Support - Both had hearings on 3/28 with House Fish, Wildlife & Parks. (Reported on 3/15)



_________________________
Legislative call number 444-4800

Senate addresses below

House of Representatives addresses
Rep.Kim.Abbott@mt.gov, Jbachmeier4hd28@gmail.com, nancyballance@aol.com, Danbartel2@gmail.com, becky4hd80@blackfoot.net, bennettforhouse@gmail.com, Rep.Seth.Berglee@mt.gov, Rep.Laurie.Bishop@mt.gov, randybrodehl57@gmail.com, Rep.Bob.Brown@mt.gov, brownformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Burnett@mt.gov, Rep.Rob.Cook@mt.gov, vcourtforlegislature@yahoo.com, Rep.Mike.Cuffe@mt.gov, Rep.Willis.Curdy@mt.gov, Amanda@amandaformontana.com, Rep.Geraldine.Custer@mt.gov, alandoane@midrivers.com, kimberly.dudik@gmail.com, Rep.MaryAnn.Dunwell@mt.gov, Rep.Jenny.Eck@mt.gov, Rep.Ron.Ehli@mt.gov, Rep.Janet.Ellis@mt.gov, jessmann@mt.gov, Rep.Dave.Fern@mt.gov, Rep.Ross.Fitzgerald@mt.gov, JohnFlemingStIgnatius@gmail.com, Rep.Kelly.Flynn@mt.gov, Rep.Moffie.Funk@mt.gov, wyliegaltformt@gmail.com, frankgarnerhd7@gmail.com, Rep.Carl.Glimm@mt.gov, edgreef@hotmail.com, rep.bruce.grubbs@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Gunderson@mt.gov, Rep.Jim.Hamilton@mt.gov, Rep.Bradley.Hamlett@mt.gov, Rep.Bill.Harris@mt.gov, Rep.Denise.Hayman@mt.gov, Rep.Adam.Hertz@mt.gov, greghertz11@gmail.com, elliehillhd94@gmail.com, Rep.Ken.Holmlund@mt.gov, Mikeformontana@gmail.com, Rep.Tom.Jacobson@mt.gov, donjonesmt2@gmail.com, Rep.Jessica.Karjala@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Kelker@mt.gov, Rep.George.Kipp@mt.gov, Rep.Jon.Knokey@mt.gov, austinforhouse@yahoo.com, Rep.Casey.Knudsen@mt.gov, Rep.Steve.Lavin@mt.gov, Rep.Dennis.Lenz@mt.gov, Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, Rep.Ryan.Lynch@mt.gov, Rep.Forrest.Mandeville@mt.gov, Rep.Theresa.Manzella@mt.gov, kelly@bigskytech.net, Rep.Nate.McConnell@mt.gov, Rep.Wendy.McKamey@mt.gov, Rep.Shane.Morigeau@mt.gov, Rep.Dale.Mortensen@mt.gov, marknolandhd10@gmail.com, Rep.james.ohara@mt.gov, Rep.Andrea.Olsen@mt.gov, Rep.Jimmy.Patelis@mt.gov, Rep.Rae.Peppers@mt.gov, Rep.Zac.Perry@mt.gov, Rep.Gordon.Pierson@mt.gov, jeanbigskybigwin@gmail.com, Rep.Alan.Redfield@mt.gov, Rep.Matt.Regier@mt.gov, Rep.Vince.Ricci@mt.gov, Atomicrosie@gmail.com, Rep.Marilyn.Ryan@mt.gov, Rep.Walt.Sales@mt.gov, Rep.Casey.Schreiner@mt.gov, Rep.Ray.Shaw@mt.gov, Rep.Lola.Sheldon-Galloway@mt.gov, Rep.Derek.Skees@mt.gov, repbsmith@gmail.com, scottstaffanson@gmail.com, Rep.Sharon.Peregoy@mt.gov, Rep.Kathy.Swanson@mt.gov, Rep.Jeremy.Trebas@mt.gov, Rep.Brad.Tschida@mt.gov, Rep.Barry.Usher@mt.gov, Rep.Sue.Vinton@mt.gov, Rep.Kirk.Wagoner@mt.gov, Webb4house@gmail.com, Rep.Susan.Webber@mt.gov, Twelch1213@gmail.com, winwithwhite@gmail.com, tomwoods4mt@gmail.com, Rep.Daniel.Zolnikov@mt.gov,

Senate email addresses
goodwind1.duane@gmail.com, rnewbar@gmail.com, Sen.Mark.Blasdel@mt.gov, Sen.Dee.Brown@mt.gov, ebuttrey@mtsenate.com, marycaferro@gmail.com, Sen.Jill.Cohenour@mt.gov, Sen.Pat.Connell@mt.gov, TFacey@mt.gov, Sen.Jennifer.Fielder@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Fitzpatrick@mt.gov, Mrmac570@me.com, Sen.Jen.Gross@mt.gov, Sen.Steve.Hinebauch@mt.gov, Sen.Jedediah.Hinkle@mt.gov, brian@hovenequipment.com, sendavidhoward@gmail.com, Sen.Llew.Jones@mt.gov, Sen.Doug.Kary@mt.gov, Sen.Bob.Keenan@mt.gov, Sen.Mike.Lang@mt.gov, suemalek@gmail.com, edie.mcclafferty@gmail.com, Sen.Mary.McNally@mt.gov, moe.mt.senate@gmail.com, Sen.Eric.Moore@mt.gov, Sen.Albert.Olszewski@mt.gov, ryanosmundson@gmail.com, mikephillips@montana.net, Sen.JP@mt.gov, Sen.Keith.Regier@mt.gov, tomrichmondmt@gmail.com, Sen.Scott.Sales@mt.gov, dansalomon12@gmail.com, senatorsands@gmail.com, Sen.Jon.Sesso@mt.gov, Sen.Jason.Small@mt.gov, Sen.Cary.Smith@mt.gov, clairena@hughes.net, Sen.Nels.Swandal@mt.gov, Sen.Margie.MacDonald@mt.gov, sfredthomas@yahoo.com, vancesd34@gmail.com, cvvincent@hotmail.com, Sen.Gene.Vuckovich@mt.gov, webb4mt@hotmail.com, jeffwelborn@hotmail.com, Sen.Lea.Whitford@mt.gov, Sen.Cynthia.Wolken@mt.gov,


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Kathryn QannaYahu
406-579-7748
www.EMWH.org
Bozeman, MT

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