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MontanaHB 76769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise county predator control laws to include goats

Sponsored By: Julie Darling (Republican)

Signed by Governor

LivestockLocal GovernmentState Government

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

County predator control for goats

The law lets a county board start a predator control program to protect goats. The board may act alone or with other counties. All goat license fee money goes into a separate predator control fund. The board may spend the fund on predator control, including bounties. If predators are taken with program money, the county sells the furs and puts the proceeds back into the fund. The board gives preference to recommendations from the county’s organized goat producers group.

Sheep fee starts at 9 months

The law lowers the age for sheep to owe the per-head license fee from 1 year to 9 months on the regular assessment date. The treasurer collects the fee, and unpaid fees become a lien on the owner's real and personal property. Fee money goes into a separate predator control fund and can pay for predator control work, including bounties. Interest earned stays in the fund.

Per-goat fees and owner petitions

The county board may charge a per-head license fee on goats 9 months or older on the county’s regular assessment date. Goats brought into the county after that date also owe the fee. The treasurer collects the fee, and unpaid fees become a lien on the owner's real and personal property; if the owner has no real estate, payment is due at once and collected like personal property taxes. If resident owners of at least 51% of the goats (as shown on the last property tax records) petition by the first Monday in December, the board must start the program and collect the fee the next year. A 51% petition can also end the program and stop the fee, or raise or lower the fee. Signatures cannot be withdrawn after the hearing time.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Julie Darling

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 484 • No: 11

House vote • 4/18/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote • 4/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 44 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/5/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 46 • No: 4

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 98 • No: 1

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 0

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

    4/7/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading

    4/7/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading

    4/5/2025Senate

  13. Committee Report

    4/2/2025Senate

  14. Committee Executive Action

    4/1/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    3/27/2025Senate

  16. Referred to Committee

    3/19/2025Senate

  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

    3/4/2025House

  22. Committee Executive Action

    3/4/2025House

  23. Fiscal Note Printed

    3/4/2025House

  24. Fiscal Note Signed

    3/3/2025House

  25. Fiscal Note Received

    3/3/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/21/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/2/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/25/2025

    PDF

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