Two Montana bills regarding the status of bison were vetoed by Gov. Steve Bullock late last month.
One bill, HB 132, called for clarification over the definition of “wild bison” and a per capita fee application to domestic bison.
The HB 132 writers recommended “wild bison” be classified as animals that have never been captive, have never been subject to the per capita fee, and have never been owned by a person.
All other animals would be designated as livestock and require a per capita filing.
This clarification would have closed a definition loophole by classifying bison as livestock if they had been held captive at any point in their lives.
The second bill vetoed, HB 332, called for authorization by county commissioners before bison could be transported into a county.
Before relocation, certain conditions would have to have been met such as brucellosis-free, not a safety risk, and not a compromise to relocation growth.
Bullock’s rejection letters stated that HB 132 would have “significant, adverse consequences for bison management in Montana” by classifying wild bison as those never held in captivity, and HB 332 “would set the dangerous precedent of supplanting the state’s management of its fish and wildlife with county regulation.”
