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LC 536

Transfer sage grouse oversight to DNRC

2025 Regular Session

Shift sage grouse oversight from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to DNRC, reassigning habitat planning and land-use decisions; the bill died in process.

(LC) Draft Died in Process
#environmentalprotection #fishandwildlife
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Bill Summary · LC 536

Summary of LC 536 – Transfer sage grouse oversight to DNRC

Overview

LC 536 is a bill introduced on October 9, 2024 with the title “Transfer sage grouse oversight to DNRC.” The bill is classified as Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife. The available legislative actions indicate that this draft never advanced and ultimately died in process.

Purpose and Intent (as suggested by the title)

  • The bill would transfer oversight of sage grouse from one state agency to another, specifically moving authority from the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) framework to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
  • The stated objective appears to be a reallocation of regulatory and management responsibilities related to sage grouse habitat, conservation planning, and related land-use considerations within the state.

Note: The text of the bill is not provided in the available information, so detailed provisions and mechanisms (e.g., how rules would be adopted, budget implications, or mandated actions) are not specified here.

Key Provisions (not detailed in the provided text)

  • Based on the title, core change: shift of oversight authority for sage grouse management from FWP to DNRC.
  • Specific regulatory authorities, funding, reporting requirements, and coordination with other agencies or federal programs are not publicly available in the provided material.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Primary agencies: Montana DNRC would gain oversight; Montana FWP would lose oversight authority for sage grouse.
  • Stakeholders likely affected include wildlife management interests, habitat conservation programs, landowners and land managers (particularly on state lands or programs interacting with DNRC), and counties involved in land-use planning.
  • Broader impacts could involve changes to habitat protection strategies, collaborative processes, and potential realignment of conservation commitments across state lands and resources.

Procedural History and Status

  • Introduced: October 9, 2024
  • Draft On Hold: November 26, 2024
  • Draft Canceled: December 30, 2024
  • Draft Died in Process: May 22, 2025
  • Current status: The bill is considered dead in its current form; no further legislative action is anticipated for this session under LC 536.

Context and Takeaways

  • This proposal reflects a structural shift in wildlife/resource governance at the state level, moving sage grouse oversight from FWP to DNRC.
  • Given its status as a draft that died in process, there are no enacted provisions or implementation timelines to monitor. If a similar idea resurfaces in future sessions, policymakers would need to address regulatory authority, funding, interagency coordination, and potential impacts on ongoing sage grouse conservation efforts.

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

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