PRIA Logo™
MontanaHB 55469th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Remove FWP requirement to regulate wolves as furbearers or game animals

Sponsored By: Brandon Ler (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Fish

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Livestock owners can get wolf kill permits

After federal and state delisting of wolves, Montana can allow lethal control under an approved wolf plan. The plan must be approved by Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Department of Livestock. If wolves kill your livestock and you are a landowner or a public land permittee, the Department can issue you a written kill permit (shoot-on-sight authorization). Permits are allowed only when your loss is confirmed and the plan authorizes them.

New wolf management rules after delisting

If the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delists wolves and the state also delists them, Montana manages wolves as a species in need of management. The law ends the option to treat wolves as game animals or furbearers. State wildlife officials no longer classify or regulate wolves as game or furbearers after delisting.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brandon Ler

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Greg Hertz

    Republican • Senate

  • Jedediah Hinkle

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 173 • No: 122

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 29 • No: 21

Senate vote • 4/14/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 34 • No: 15

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 57 • No: 42

House vote • 3/4/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 53 • No: 44

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/8/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/5/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/25/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/25/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/24/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/17/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/15/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading

    4/15/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading

    4/14/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report

    4/8/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action

    4/8/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    3/18/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Committee

    3/14/2025Senate

  14. 1st Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  15. Transmitted to Senate

    3/6/2025House

  16. 3rd Reading

    3/6/2025House

  17. 2nd Reading

    3/4/2025House

  18. Committee Report

    2/28/2025House

  19. Committee Executive Action

    2/27/2025House

  20. Hearing

    2/26/2025House

  21. 1st Reading

    2/19/2025House

  22. Referred to Committee

    2/19/2025House

  23. Introduced

    2/18/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/16/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/18/2025

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation