Bill > HB767

This bill revises Montana's county predator control laws to specifically include goats, allowing county commissioners to establish a predatory animal control program for goat protection upon recommendation from a goat producers' association. The bill modifies existing livestock licensing regulations by changing the age threshold for per capita annual assessment from 1 year to 9 months for goats, sheep, and cattle. County commissioners can now require goat owners to pay a per capita license fee to help defray protection expenses, with the collected fees placed in a separate predatory animal control fund. Goat owners can petition the county commissioners to establish or modify the program, and they must represent at least 51% of goat owners in the county to initiate changes. The bill also stipulates that proceeds from the sale of predatory animal skins taken during control efforts must be deposited into the predatory animal control fund. These provisions aim to provide goat farmers with additional protection against predatory animals and create a mechanism for funding and managing predator control efforts at the county level.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4272