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MontanaHB 76369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Generally revise laws related to the block management program.

Sponsored By: Joshua Seckinger (Democrat)

Signed by Governor

State LandsRule Making

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Some lands barred from access programs

Private land is ineligible if outfitting, commercial hunting, or charged access fees unreasonably restrict public hunting. The department decides eligibility. Losing eligibility stops program payments and services.

Hunting access payments and help, with caps

The law provides payments and in‑kind help to landowners who allow public hunting. Help can include weed control, fire protection, insurance offsets, and building or maintaining roads, gates, parking, and signs. Payments are capped at $50,000 a year per landowner, or $25,000 a year if the agreement only provides access to public land. The Fish and Wildlife Commission sets how benefits are calculated, using factors like days open, habitat, and access to public land. For public‑land‑only access, the program can use a flat yearly fee and skip tracking hunting days.

Liability protection for landowners who join

If you participate in a hunting access program, you get the liability limits in 70-16-302(1). This reduces your legal risk if someone is injured while hunting on your land. The protection applies to participating landowners, agents, and tenants.

New voluntary hunting access programs

The department can create new voluntary programs to open private and public lands for hunting. Landowners and hunters can join these programs through cooperative agreements. This section does not set start dates or funding levels.

Written access agreements and notice rules

If you allow public hunting on or across your private land, you must sign a cooperative agreement with the department. The agreement lists rules, access management, services, and any limits, and it is public. If the agreement only provides access to adjacent public land, the department must notify nearby public‑land leaseholders, follow their lease terms, and allow them to support or object. If an agreement may harm game management or habitat on public land, the department consults public‑land agencies, hunters, and affected landowners and considers landowner goals.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joshua Seckinger

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

  • Jonathan Karlen

    Democrat • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 472 • No: 23

House vote • 4/18/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 97 • No: 1

House vote • 4/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 48 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 48 • No: 1

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 92 • No: 7

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 88 • No: 11

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/13/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/8/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/1/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/1/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/29/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/21/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/18/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/18/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/17/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/12/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading

    4/12/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading

    4/11/2025Senate

  13. Committee Report

    4/8/2025Senate

  14. Committee Executive Action

    4/8/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    3/25/2025Senate

  16. Referred to Committee

    3/18/2025Senate

  17. 1st Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  18. Transmitted to Senate

    3/7/2025House

  19. 3rd Reading

    3/7/2025House

  20. 2nd Reading

    3/6/2025House

  21. Committee Report

    3/3/2025House

  22. Fiscal Note Printed

    3/3/2025House

  23. Fiscal Note Signed

    3/3/2025House

  24. Fiscal Note Received

    3/3/2025House

  25. Committee Executive Action

    2/27/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/21/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/8/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/25/2025

    PDF

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