# Montana HB 648: Require FWP notification before the release of large predators

Montana HB 648, Require FWP notification before the release of large predators, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Brandon Ler (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-05 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB648-2025
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Montana HB 648
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Require FWP notification before the release of large predators
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-21
- Last action: 2025-05-05, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Brandon Ler (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Fish, Counties, Law Enforcement, Indians
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (291 yes, 7 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local and tribal input and relocation notice: benefit, low. The Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks must let county commissioners and tribal governments meet with state and federal agencies before decisions about large predators or large game. This applies in areas with identifiable predator populations. The department must also give verbal and written n…
- State sends law text to tribes: benefit, low. The Secretary of State sends a copy of this law to every federally recognized tribal government in Montana. Tribal officials receive the enacted text so they know the new rules.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Brandon Ler (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Greg Hertz (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-15 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 46 | 4 |   |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 50 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-07 | House | Do Pass | pass | 97 | 2 |   |
| 2025-03-05 | House | Do Pass | pass | 98 | 1 |   |

## Actions (23)

- 2025-05-05: Chapter Number Assigned (House)
- 2025-05-01: Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-04-24: Transmitted to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-24: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-18: Returned from Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-15: Sent to Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-15: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-04-14: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-03-18: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2025-03-07: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-03-05: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-03-01: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-03-01: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-02-26: Hearing (House)
- 2025-02-22: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-02-22: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-02-21: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2025-04-16: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=92d27eb0-14ee-4d97-83dc-5a2b7dd8ed66)
- As Amended (Version 2), 2025-03-01: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=91a8d997-8f5d-4ebb-a87a-669272053cf7)
- Introduced, 2025-02-21: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=e3ff86a3-c025-41e8-ba32-7d5b1a1d3748)

## 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 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed)
- SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=92d27eb0-14ee-4d97-83dc-5a2b7dd8ed66)
- [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=91a8d997-8f5d-4ebb-a87a-669272053cf7)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=e3ff86a3-c025-41e8-ba32-7d5b1a1d3748)

## 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 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025)
- [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025)
- [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-HB648-2025 (as of 2026-10-12).