Legislative Action Alert March 16th 2021

As spring draws closer, our legislative team has been busy fighting off bad bills on issues ranging from wildlife management to energy to land preservation and more. Your calls and messages to legislators are helping! Thank you to everyone who has taken our action alerts. We have four more alerts this week: 2 oppose and 2 support. Scroll down for more.

SB 314: Revise laws related to wolf harvest

Status: Waiting executive action in House Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Montana Audubon Position: Oppose

SB 314 would take extreme measures including baiting, night hunting and no bag limits in an extreme attempt to drive wolf numbers down to a bare minimum number. It’s unneeded when we have a sound wolf season and already have the tools with the Fish and Wildlife Commission to manage the population.

SB 267: Authorize reimbursement for wolf trapping and hunting

Status: Waiting executive action in House Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Montana Audubon Position: Oppose

This bill allows wolf hunters and trappers to be reimbursed for costs incurred while hunting and trapping wolves. It allows the reimbursement of receipts for the costs and amounts to a bounty on wolves. No other wildlife harvest community expects or requests such fringe benefits.

Action for both 314 and 267

1. Follow the steps below to contact the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks committee HERE.

• Fill out the form provided.
• Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
• Select (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
• Select Bill Type (SB) and Bill Number 314 or 267
• Select Against
• Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.

2. Contact the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee directly and tell them to vote NO!

Fitzgerald, Ross (R) ‑ Chair, ross.fitzgerald@mtleg.gov, (406) 467-2032

Duram, Neil (R) ‑ Vice Chair, Neil.Duram@mtleg.gov, (406) 471-2356

Farris‑Olsen, Robert (D) ‑ Vice Chair, robformontana@gmail.com, (406) 794-4780

Berglee, Seth (R), Seth.Berglee@mtleg.gov, (406) 690-9329

Fielder, Paul (R), paulfielder@blackfoot.net, (406) 210-5943

France, Tom (D), tom.france@mtleg.gov, (406) 396-5085

Hinkle, Jedediah (R), jedediah.hinkle@mtleg.gov, (406) 585-0722

Knudsen, Rhonda (R), rhonda.knudsen@mtleg.gov, (406) 489-5253

Loge, Denley (R), Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, (406) 649-2368

Marler, Marilyn (D), marilyn.marler@mtleg.gov, (406) 544-7189

Mitchell, Braxton (R), BraxtonMMitchell@gmail.com, (406) 314-9474

Novak, Sara (D), novak4hd77@gmail.com, (406) 691-0069

Phalen, Bob (R), Bob.Phalen@mtleg.gov, (406) 939-1187

Putnam, Brian (R), brian.putnam@mtleg.gov, (406) 233-9463

Reksten, Linda (R), reksten4mthouse@gmail.com, (406) 471-8359

Running Wolf, Tyson (D), trwolves@gmail.com, (406) 845-2115

Seekins‑Crowe, Kerri (R), Kerri4MT@gmail.com, (406) 208-6587

Weatherwax, Marvin (D), repmarvinwwaxjr@gmail.com,  (406) 338-7741

Clerk: Joanne Kauzlarich, Rm 451, (406) 444‑2554

Staff: Hope Stockwell, Rm 171C, (406) 444‑9280

SB 249: Revise funding for the Montana greater sage-grouse stewardship act

Status: 3/19/2021; 3:00 PM, RM 172 (H) Nat Res

Montana Audubon Position: Support

This bill proposes a new funding structure for the Sage Grouse Stewardship Act that includes sharing administrative expenses between Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and putting a $25,000 cap on MSGOT meeting costs while keeping the makeup of MSGOT the same.

Action!

1. Sign up to testify by 12pm on 3/18 HERE.
2. Follow the steps below to contact the Senate Natural Resources committee HERE.

• Fill out the form provided.
• Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
• Select (H) Natural Resources 
• Select Bill Type (SB) and Bill Number 249
• Select Support
• Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.

3. Contact the House Natural Resources Committee directly and tell them to vote YES!

Gunderson, Steve (R) ‑ Chair, steve.gunderson@mtleg.gov, (406) 334-4370

Knudsen, Rhonda (R) ‑ Vice Chair, rhonda.knudsen@mtleg.gov, (406) 489-5253

Curdy, Willis (D) ‑ Vice Chair, Willis.Curdy@mtleg.gov, (406) 728-0981

Farris‑Olsen, Robert (D), robformontana@gmail.com, (406) 794-4780

Fielder, Paul (R), paulfielder@blackfoot.net, (406) 210-5943

Fitzgerald, Ross (R), ross.fitzgerald@mtleg.gov, (406) 467-2032

France, Tom (D), tom.france@mtleg.gov, (406) 396-5085

Galloway, Steven (R), galloway4mt@gmail.com, (406) 727-4963

Gist, Steve (R), steve.gist@mtleg.gov, (406) 231-4050

Malone, Marty (R),  dogrockranch@gmail.com, (406) 223-1302

Marler, Marilyn (D), marilyn.marler@mtleg.gov, (406) 544-7189

Noland, Mark (R), marknolandhd10@gmail.com, (406) 253-8982

Putnam, Brian ®, brian.putnam@mtleg.gov, (406) 233-9463

Walsh, Kenneth (R), kenneth.walsh@mtleg.gov, (406) 684-5624

Weatherwax, Marvin (D), repmarvinwwaxjr@gmail.com, (406) 338-7741

Clerk: Jacquelynn Bomgardner, Rm 468, (406) 444‑1596

Staff: Joe Kolman, Rm 171B, (406) 444‑3747

HB 410: Pollinator protection act

Status: Waiting executive action in House Agriculture

Montana Audubon Position: Support

HB 410 would require the Department of Agriculture to included an assessment of the impacts of neonicotinoids on pollinators, development of a proposal to create and enhance pollinator nesting and foraging habitat, including the establishment of pollinator reserves or refuges, and recommendations for best management practices and habitat restoration guidelines for pollinator habitat.

Action!

1. Follow the steps below to contact the House Agriculture committee HERE.

• Fill out the form provided.
• Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
• Select (H) Agriculture 
• Select Bill Type (Hb) and Bill Number 410
• Select Support
• Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.

2. Contact the House Agriculture Committee directly and tell them to vote YES!

Kassmier, Joshua (R) ‑ Chair, (406) 781-5386, JKASSMIER@LIVE.COM 

Dooling, Julie (R) ‑ Vice Chair, (406) 471-4125, julie.dooling@mtleg.gov 

Olsen, Andrea (D) ‑ Vice Chair, (406) 543-2666, Andrea.Olsen@MTLeg.gov 

Anderson, Fred (R), (406) 761-4042, unavailable email

Beard, Becky (R), (406) 492-6590, becky4hd80@blackfoot.net 

Binkley, Michele (R), (406) 375-0291, michele@binkleyformontana.com 

Curdy, Willis (D), (406) 728-0981, Willis.Curdy@mtleg.gov 

Funk, Moffie (D), (406) 461-6785, Moffie.Funk@mtleg.gov 

Knudsen, Casey (R), (406) 390-0274, unavailable email

Ler, Brandon (R), (406) 480-5687, lerforrichland@gmail.com 

Malone, Marty (R), (406) 223-1302, dogrockranch@gmail.com 

Marshall, Ron (R), (406) 579-9498, ronmarshallmt87@gmail.com 

McKamey, Wendy (R), (406) 866-3300, unavailable email

Smith, Frank (D), (495) 942-0615, clairena@hughes.net 

Sullivan, Katie (D), (406) 616-3914, katie.sullivan@mtleg.gov 

Walsh, Kenneth (R), (406) 684-5624, kenneth.walsh@mtleg.gov 

Whiteman Pena, Rynalea (D), (406) 477-8717, pena_rynalea@yahoo.com 

Clerk: Jacquelynn Bomgardner, Rm (406) 468, 444‑1596

Staff: Cori Hach, Rm 129, (406) 444‑6857