Interim study on the Montana cattle industry

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Tilleman

Directs an interim study of Montana's cattle industry to assess policy and tax issues, hold hearings, and report findings to inform future legislation.

(H) Filed with Secretary of State

#agriculture(seealso:livestock;taxation--agriculture/livestock) #legislature #interimstudies #statutory

Overview / Purpose

HJ 52 is a joint resolution directing an interim study of the Montana cattle industry. Classified under Agriculture (including Livestock and Taxation—Agriculture/Livestock), Legislature, Interim Studies, and Statutory matters, the resolution seeks legislative-level examination of issues affecting cattle producers and related sectors to inform potential statutory or tax policy changes.

Key provisions (based on available information)

The bill text is not included in the materials provided. Based on the title, classification, and referral history, HJ 52 generally does the following:
- Establishes an interim study focused on the Montana cattle industry and related taxation/legislative issues.
- Directs a legislative body or joint committee to conduct the study, hold hearings, and gather information from stakeholders and state agencies.
- Requests assistance from legislative support offices (the bill was referred to the Office of Legislative Research and the Office of Fiscal Analysis on 02/24/2025), suggesting fiscal and policy analysis will be part of the work.
- Requires the study committee to prepare findings and likely report recommendations to the Legislature (standard practice for interim studies), though a specific reporting deadline is not provided in the available record.

Because the full resolution language is not provided, specific scope items (for example: taxation impacts, market access, disease control, labor, regulatory burdens, supply chain resilience, or state program effectiveness) are not listed in the document and would need to be confirmed in the resolution text.

Who/what would be affected

Montana cattle producers (ranchers and feedlot operators)

Livestock processors, marketers, and supply-chain businesses

County and state agencies involved in agriculture, livestock, and taxation (e.g., Dept. of Livestock, Dept. of Revenue)

Rural communities dependent on cattle industry economic activity

Legislators and legislative staff who will participate in or use the study

Procedural history and timeline

Introduced: February 6, 2025

Referred to joint Judiciary committee (02/06/2025); later referred to the Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis (02/24/2025)

Public hearing: February 14, 2025

Committee reports, hearings, and readings occurred in both House and Senate (House hearings and committee actions April 2025; Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee concurred April 28, 2025)

Passed both chambers: House 3rd Reading Passed (04/24/2025); Senate 3rd Reading Concurred (04/30/2025)

Sent to enrolling and signed: Returned from enrolling (05/02/2025); signed by Speaker (05/05/2025) and Senate President (05/06/2025)

Filed with Secretary of State: May 6, 2025

Related bill: LC 2928 (listed as replaced by this measure).

Notes / Next steps

The full text of HJ 52 should be consulted to confirm the study's precise scope, membership of the study committee, timelines for hearings and reporting requirements, and any specific directives to agencies.

Outcomes expected from the interim study include policy recommendations and fiscal analysis to assist the next legislative session in considering statutory or tax changes affecting the cattle sector.

Bill