EMWH Update including a Disgusting Hearing on HB 651

Legislative Update Mar. 25, 2017

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


 
HB 651 Fasttracking


Watching the live video of the HB 651 hearing, Rep. Zach Brown, the Vice Chair, made an objection, that House Rules 30-40, subsection 4 states, "(4)  All  committees  shall  provide  for  and  give  public  notice,  reasonably   calculated   to   give   actual   notice   to   interested   persons,  of  the  time,  place,  and  subject  matter  of  regular  and  special meetings. All committees are encouraged to provide at least  3  legislative  days  notice  to  members  of  committees  and  the general public. However, a meeting may be held upon notice appropriate to the circumstances." He also asked that the 15 minutes allotted for comments, by the Chair, Rep. Kerry White, be expanded.

This bill was posted on the 23rd, with a hearing set for the 24th - about 24 hours.

There were no proponents there, with the sponsor, Rep. Regier stating that due to short notice, he was not able to get the proponents there. Yet, due to our conservation networking, even with short notice, we had 15 opponents testify, with numerous other opponents calling and emailing their objections.

Testifying opposition were: Chris Marchion - Anaconda Sportsmen, Steve Platt - Helena Hunters & Anglers, Richard Hutton, Seth Morris, Shawn Thomas - MT DNRC, DJ Berg - National & MT Wild Sheep Foundation, Mark Lambrecht - RMEF, Jery Davis - Montana Bowhunters Association, Amy Seaman - MT Audubon Society, Jeff Lukas - MT Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Rod Bullis, Brian Ohs - MT Trout Unlimited, Mike Korn - retired FWP (began Block Management), Ron Aasheim - Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Nick Gevock - representing Montana Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation, Mule Deer Foundation & The Nature Conservancy.

As fast tracked as this bill has been introduced the 23rd and hearing the 24th, Rep. Kerry White stated that they might take executive action that day. Which is exactly what they did last night.

Additionally, according to "5-4-201, MCA, fiscal notes are required on all bills reported out of a committee having an effect on the revenues, expenditures, or fiscal liability of the state or of a county or municipality, except appropriation measures carrying specific dollar amounts. Statutory provisions regarding fiscal notes may be found in 5-4-201 through 5-4-210, MCA."

No fiscal note was available for either the committee, nor the public by the time of, nor at the time of the hearing. It is still not posted.

Not what I wanted to be doing this morning, but I watched the executive action for this bill.

Rep. Flynn mentioned his concerns with the funding source, that it was going to be tough to overcome and he couldn't support the bill.

Then Rep. Wylie Galt let fly,
"The landowner/hunter problem is a growing rift. Lot of the opponents came up here, said how great this Habitat for Humanity (yes, that is exactly what he said, instead of Habitat Montana). I would disagree. As a landowner who deals with hunters, every year I dread hunting season more and more. The hunters are becoming more rude, more blatant. What needs to happen is we need to get these people together, we need to have them actually come talk to the landowners. So for that I'm going to support this bill for hopefully some kind of change like this will get something like that to happen. Because if we don't start doing something, its only going to get worse."



Flynn suggested PR dollars instead of Habitat Montana funding. He held up a stack of messages in opposition and said,
"Look at this, 100s and 100s and 100s more! And I absolutely know after being in the discussions with Rep. Regier, he is in earnest to solve the problem. And every body in here is in earnest to solve the problem. If we take it to a funding source that is a, you know I think we have a chance of maybe, getting some dollars out of there, that I think it has the potential to solve the problem, answer the concerns of some of the folks around here, alleviate the concerns from the other folks and at the end of the day, the winners will be the public, so that would be my suggestion Mr. Chair."

Chair White said he resisted putting any kind of conceptual amendment on this, didn't want to delay this, wanted to get it passed. So they voted - 8 yes, 7 no. Thankfully, Rep. Flynn voted against it, but unfortunately it was not enough to stop this fasttrack agenda. 

Despite all the public outpouring of opposition emails, phone calls and public testimony; despite FWP and DNRC opposing  HB 651; despite the Montana rule about public notice and the MCA about fiscal notes, almost of the entirety of the Republicans on this House Natural Resource Committee chose to ignore all this to fasttrack pass this financial funding and authority, redundant thieving bill.

For another perspective, Mike Korn's article - Thanks for Your Comments. Now, Go Away. HB 651  (retired FWP's Block Management Coordinator from 1988-1995) 

Please contact the House Representatives in opposition to this bill, quickly, it will probably go to the Floor the beginning of this coming week. Addresses below.

Public Trust Resources
HB 651 - Oppose - Passed Executive Action, probably will be heard early this week.  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
Please email opposition to House Representatives, addresses below.


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 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) Still sitting in  Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Senate Committee.


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 it's 3rd reading and is now back in the House due to the new residential amendment.   (reported on 2/28 and 2/31)

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)

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)

Constitutional Amendment
SB 236 - Oppose - Hearing before Senate Fish & Game 3/27 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)

CWD
SB's 187 and 173 Hearings on 3/28 with House Fish, Wildlife & Parks. (Reported on 3/15)

_________________________
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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