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Take action for wild buffalo on bills before the 2023 Montana Legislature.

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      Guide to Commenting on Bills

         

        Guide to commenting on bills.

        • Be brief and clear, write to the point.
        • The most persuasive writing is in your own words.
        • BFC's talking points can be used in your comments.
        • For guidance on addressing/commenting to legislators, review BFC’s comments.
        • Send your comments by 12 noon one day before scheduled committee hearings or floor votes. Give legislators time to consider your comments.

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        • Montana’s web form permits comments from anyone in the United States.
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        • Complete the required data fields (*asterisk*).
        • Select Send Message to a Legislator or a Committee.
        • Select the Bill Type (HB-House Bill or SB-Senate Bill) and enter the Number.
        • Select For or Against.
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        You did it! Thank you for taking action in support of protecting wild buffalo in Montana!

        Request to Testify Remotely by Zoom

           

          https://leg.mt.gov/session/have-your-say/

          • Click on Request To Testify Remotely/Upload Your Testimony.
          • Complete the form.
          • Click on Yes to join the Zoom meeting.
          • Click on Submit.
          • You will receive a confirmation by email with information on how to participate in the Zoom meeting.
          • To be eligible to testify remotely, complete your request and send it no later than 5PM (MST) the day before the hearing is scheduled.
          • Once you are Zoomed into the hearing, follow the directions. When your bill is ready to be heard, raise your virtual hand to let the committee know you want to speak.
          • If you provide written comments along with your request to testify remotely, use your testimony by Zoom to say something more or new to what you have already shared in writing with the committee. Prepare ahead of time to speak briefly (1 to 3 minutes).

           


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          HB 522

          Title: Provide landowner preference bison tags for landowners near YNP
          Bill Text: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/HB0522.htm
          Sponsor: Marty Malone (R) HD 59
          Status: Hearing in the Senate Fish and Game Committee Room 422 at 3 PM (MST) 3/23/2023. Please send your comments opposing HB 522 today. Executive action will likely be taken on Tuesday, March 28 around 3 PM (MST).

          Watch the Hearing Live (HB 522 begins at 15:14:35)

          Bill summary: House Bill 522 preferentially allocates an additional 15% of Montana-issued tags to a class of private landowners and corporations to hunt buffalo on private lands.

          Talking Points:

          • Montana has no claim for hunting buffalo.
          • Montana manages for the elimination of migratory buffalo — not for self-sustaining populations like it does for elk, deer, and antelope.
          • Creates an exclusive privilege for a class of private landowners to be preferentially given a tag to hunt buffalo.
          • Creates an unheard-of and exclusive privilege for corporations — via a shareholder — to be preferentially given a tag to hunt buffalo.
          • According to Fish, Wildlife & Parks approximately 87 landowners and corporations are eligible for the additional buffalo tags.

          BFC Testimony:
          Buffalo Field Campaign comments on HB 522: Do Not Pass (Download the PDF)
          Wild Bison Drawing in Montana (2004-2022) (Download the PDF)



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          Resolution: SJ 14

          Title: Resolution opposing bison introduction at Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge
          Bill Text: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2023/billhtml/SJ0014.htm
          Sponsor: Mike Lang (R) SD 17
          Status: Hearing in the House Fish, Wildlife & Parks Committee Room 172 at 3 PM (MST) 3/23/2023. Please send your comments opposing SJ 14 today. Executive action will likely be taken on Tuesday, March 28 around 3 PM (MST).

          Watch the Hearing Live (SJ 14 begins at 15:46:40)

          Talking Points:

          • Montanans favor restoring wild buffalo on public (75%) and tribal lands (78%) (Tulchin Research, Jan. 7, 2015, Download the PDF).
          • 70% of Montanans support restoring a wild buffalo population in and around the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (Moore Information Feb. 23-24, 2011, Download the PDF).
          • Buffalo are a native “species of concern” and considered to be “at risk” of extirpation in Montana (Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, June 2011, Download the PDF).
          • Montana has a duty to manage for the recovery of sensitive species (MCA 87-1-201) “in a manner that prevents the need for listing” as an endangered species (MCA 87-5-107).


          BFC Testimony:
          Buffalo Field Campaign comments on SJ 14: Do Not Pass (Download the PDF)