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Bill

LC 4197

Generally revise fish, wildlife and park laws

2025 Regular Session

Montana's comprehensive fish, wildlife, and park law revision bill died during drafting before any public review or legislative consideration occurred.

(LC) Draft Died in Process
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Bill Summary · LC 4197

Legislative bill overview

LC 4197 is a comprehensive revision bill for Montana's fish, wildlife, and park laws. The bill died in the drafting process before being formally introduced to the legislature, meaning it never reached a committee or floor vote. As a draft that never materialized into official legislation, its specific provisions remain unclear from the legislative record.

Why is this important

Fish, wildlife, and park laws form the backbone of Montana's natural resource management, affecting hunting and fishing regulations, habitat conservation, public land access, and agency operations. A comprehensive revision could have modernized outdated statutes, addressed emerging conservation challenges, or shifted management philosophies, impacting millions of dollars in outdoor recreation and state revenue.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope uncertainty: Without seeing the actual draft language, it's impossible to identify which existing laws would have changed and how stakeholders (hunters, anglers, conservation groups, landowners) would have been affected
  • Process failure: The bill's death in drafting raises questions about whether coordination between the legislature, Fish and Wildlife Department, and interest groups broke down or whether competing priorities deprioritized the revision
  • Regulatory burden vs. conservation: Any comprehensive rewrite typically involves tensions between streamlining regulations and strengthening environmental protections

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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