# Montana HB 244: Revise hunting licenses for deployed armed service members

Montana HB 244, Revise hunting licenses for deployed armed service members, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Steve Gist (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-18 (Chapter Number Assigned); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB244-2025
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Montana HB 244
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Revise hunting licenses for deployed armed service members
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-04-18, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Steve Gist (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Fish, Military Affairs
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 4 (300 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Deployed members can reclaim drawn tags: benefit, low. If you gave up a drawn license or permit because you were deployed at least two months outside Montana in a federal contingency operation, you can get the same one again. You pay no extra fee. Apply in your return year or the first year that license or permit is offered after you return.
- Half-price deer and antelope tags for combat-injured vets: benefit, low. Combat‑injured veterans and disabled service members can buy certain deer tags and one special antelope license for 50% off. The deer tags include A‑3, A‑4, B‑7, and B‑8. Apply at a Fish, Wildlife and Parks office and show you qualify due to a combat‑connected injury. These antelope licenses do not…
- Free fishing and sports licenses after deployment: mixed, low. Montana Guard, reserve, or other qualifying active-duty members get a free resident conservation license and either a free resident fishing license or a free Class AAA sports license after a qualifying deployment. The deployment must be a federal contingency operation and last at least two months o…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Steve Gist (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Vince Ricci (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-01 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-31 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | House | Do Pass | pass | 100 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-11 | House | Do Pass | pass | 100 | 0 |   |

## Actions (24)

- 2025-04-18: Chapter Number Assigned (House)
- 2025-04-17: Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-04-09: Transmitted to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-09: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-02: Returned from Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-01: Sent to Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-01: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-26: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-03-25: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-03-16: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-02-21: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2025-02-12: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-02-11: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-02-07: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-02-06: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-02-06: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-01-27: Hearing (House)
- 2025-01-17: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-01-17: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2025-04-15: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=13545a09-8983-4cf2-b299-5bd4c1e829c5)
- Introduced, 2025-01-17: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=a96dbd6b-f5b2-45c9-89e0-abd958801c7a)

## Related bills

- SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed)
- HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed)
- HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed)
- SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed)
- SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed)
- SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=13545a09-8983-4cf2-b299-5bd4c1e829c5)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=a96dbd6b-f5b2-45c9-89e0-abd958801c7a)

## Related
- [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025)
- [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025)
- [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025)
- [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025)
- [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025)
- [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025)
- [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills)
- [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB244-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).