Expand livestock loss eligibility to include domestic bison
Summary
HB 504 expands Montana’s Livestock Loss Mitigation Program to expressly include domestic bison among the animals eligible for reimbursement when killed or injured by wolves, mountain lions, or grizzly bears. The bill amends the livestock loss board statute to update eligibility language, clarify valuation methods for domestic bison and other livestock, and preserve the existing claim, documentation, confidentiality, and appeal processes used for predator-loss reimbursements.
The measure also authorizes the livestock loss board to continue setting reimbursement rules, including the ability to pay up to fair market value or use a regional multiplier, and it keeps the requirement that producers be current on per-capita fees before receiving reimbursement, with limited tribal-related exceptions. The act takes effect July 1, 2025, and directs the secretary of state to send a copy to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
Impact
HB 504 changes Montana law in Section 2-15-3112, MCA, by adding domestic bison to the list of livestock covered under the state’s predator-loss reimbursement program and by defining how those losses are valued. It affects livestock producers, the livestock loss board, and the Department of Revenue’s fee-certification role, while leaving the underlying wildlife predation framework and USDA Wildlife Services confirmation process in place.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House and Senate with large margins, including unanimous committee votes in the agriculture committees and only a small number of floor dissenting votes. The vote history suggests general agreement that domestic bison producers should receive the same type of predator-loss protection already available to other livestock owners.
Contention
There is little evidence of major opposition in the available record. The main policy issue is the scope of reimbursement eligibility and valuation for domestic bison, along with the existing requirement that producers be current on per-capita fees before payment. Any remaining tension likely centers on administrative details—such as how losses are confirmed, how appeals are handled, and how reimbursement rates are set by region—rather than on the bill’s core purpose.