Legislative Action Alert: March 9th 2021
House Bill 281: Revise laws related to E bikes
Status: hearing: 03/09/2021; 3:00 PM, Rm 405
Position: Oppose
It surprises us that SB 281, a bill that defines electric bikes as non-motorized which will complicate their management on both our state and federal public lands, is passing quickly through the process. The sponsor of the bill stated that “this [bill] solves the problem of non-motorized use in the backcountry because electric power is silent. These bikes can’t damage the land, they’ll allow access in the backcountry where motorized use isn’t allowed… it’s the answer to those of us who have disabilities who can’t access the areas we want to access.” We know this isn’t true, and this change will increase human wildlife conflict, and create conflict between diverse trail use groups like horse riders, mountain bikers, and hikers.
URGENT ACTION!
1.Contact the Senate Fish and Game Committee here:
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Your senator or committee (Scroll down to find this)
- Select Bill Type (HB) and Bill Number 281
- Select Against
- Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern
2.Or contact the Senate Fish and Game Committee directly!
Hinebauch, Steve (R) ‑ (406) 365-7967, steve.hinebauch@mtleg.gov
Chair Brown, Bob (R) ‑ (406) 242-0141, Bob.Brown@mtleg.gov
Vice Chair Jacobson, Tom (D) ‑ (406) 868-9814, Tom.Jacobson@mtleg.gov
Vice Chair Blasdel, Mark (R) – (406) 261-3269, Mark.Blasdel@mtleg.gov
Cohenour, Jill (D) – (406) 227-1144, Jill.Cohenour@mtleg.gov
Ellsworth, Jason (R) – (406) 360-0009, Jason.Ellsworth@mtleg.gov
Flowers, Pat (D) – (406) 580-0035, pat.flowers@mtleg.gov
Hertz, Greg (R) – (406) 253-9505, greg.hertz@mtleg.gov
Howard, David (R) – (406) 633-2762, David.Howard@mtleg.gov
Keenan, Bob (R) – (406) 250-4111, Bob.Keenan@mtleg.gov
McClafferty, Edie (D) – (406) 490-5873, edie.mcclafferty@mtleg.gov
Secretary: Izmerai Alvarado
Staff: Joe Kolman, Rm 171B, (406) 444‑3747
House Bill 318: Clarify definition of bison
Status: Hearing 03/09/2021; 3:00 PM, Rm 335
Montana Audubon Position: Oppose
HB 318 is a layered bill with a simple outcome. The bill was intended to clarify that a bison could not be managed as wildlife if it had been charged the per capita livestock fee. Montana Audubon knows bison are wildlife, and conserving bison beyond Yellowstone National Park and the National Bison Range depends on wild bison continuing to thrive in our state. Treating bison like livestock has many unintended consequences. Today our state wildlife species are managed for the public trust by Fish, Wildlife, & Parks. Passing this bill would threaten the public wild bison hunt north of Yellowstone and threaten new wild bison herds from being established. Montanans have expressed their desire to restore wild bison to wild lands in our state and this bill would move us in the wrong direction for bison conservation in both Montana, and nationally.
URGENT ACTION!
1.Contact the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee here:
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Your senator or committee (Scroll down to find this)
- Select Bill Type (HB) and Bill Number 318
- Select Against
- Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.
- Or contact the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee directly!
Lang, Mike (R) ‑ (406) 654-7357, mike.lang@mtleg.gov
Chair Bogner, Kenneth (R) ‑ (406) 916-9690, kenneth.bogner@mtleg.gov
Vice Chair Webber, Susan (D) ‑ (406) 450-1894, nitzitap@3rivers.net
Vice Chair Boldman, Ellie (D) – (406) 218-9608, EllieMarieBoldman@gmail.com
Ellis, Janet (D) – (406) 431-9157, Janet.Ellis@mtleg.gov
Gillespie, Bruce (R) – (406) 949-4453, Bruce.Gillespie@mtleg.gov
Hoven, Brian (R) – (406) 761-8533, Brian.Hoven@mtleg.gov
O’Brien, Shannon (D) – (406) 274-3805, obriendumke@gmail.com
Osmundson, Ryan (R) – (406) 949-3715, ryanosmundson@gmail.com
Sales, Walt (R) – (406) 282-7435, waltsales4montana@gmail.com
Salomon, Daniel (R) – (406) 253-9724, dan.salomon@mtleg.gov
Secretary: Olivia Hopkins, Rm 321, 444‑4315
Staff: Jason Mohr, Rm 171D, 444‑1640
House Bill 367: Revise constitutional language regarding harvest heritage
Status: 03/12/2021; 8:00 AM, Rm 137
Montana Audubon Position: Oppose
This bill would put before Montana voters a constitutional referendum on the right to hunt, fish and trap as the primary as the primary means of wildlife management.
URGENT ACTION!
- Sign up to testify by 12pm on 3/11 HERE.
- Follow the steps below to contact the House Judiciary Committee HERE.
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
- Select (H) Judiciary
- Select Bill Type (HB) and Bill Number 367
- Select Against
- Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.
- Contact the House Judiciary Committee directly!
Usher, Barry (R) ‑ Chair barry.usher@mtleg.gov, (406) 252-2888
Regier, Amy (R) ‑ Vice Chair Amy.Regier@mtleg.gov, (406) 253-8421
Kelker, Kathy (D) ‑ Vice Chair Kathy.Kelker@mtleg.gov, (406) 652-6716
Berglee, Seth (R) Seth.Berglee@mtleg.gov, (406) 690-9329
Bishop, Laurie (D) BishopforHD60@gmail.com, (406) 223-1122
Carlson, Jennifer (R) Jennifer.Carlson@mtleg.gov, (406) 579-2929
Farris‑Olsen, Robert (D) robformontana@gmail.com, (406) 794-4780
Fleming, Frank (R) fleminglor5@gmail.com, (406) 697-9354
France, Tom (D) tom.france@mtleg.gov, (406) 396-5085
Gillette, Jane (R) Jane.Gillette@mtleg.gov, (406) 444-4800
Hawk, Donavon (D) Donavon.Hawk@mtleg.gov, (406) 578-1233
Hinkle, Jedediah (R) jedediah.hinkle@mtleg.gov, (406) 585-0722
Lenz, Dennis (R) Dennis.Lenz@mtleg.gov, (406) 671-7052
Ler, Brandon (R) lerforrichland@gmail.com, (406) 480-5687
Phalen, Bob (R) Bob.Phalen@mtleg.gov, (406) 939-1187
Skees, Derek (R) Derek.Skees@mtleg.gov, (406) 212-5493
Stafman, Ed (D) Edstafman@gmail.com, (406) 640-3362
Stromswold, Mallerie (R) Malleriestromswold@gmail.com, (406) 670-0698
Tenenbaum, Danny (D) drtenenbaum@gmail.com, (406) 285-1460
Clerk: Lydia Balian, Rm 451, (406) 444‑4872
Staff: Rachel Weiss, Rm 111B, (406) 444‑5367