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SB 238MONTANASession 2025State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Montana creates optional license donation program to fund modified archery equipment for disabled bowhunters

Original title: Allow hunters to donate funds for archery equipment for disabled bowhunters

Last action · May 13, 2025: Chapter Number AssignedSponsor: Janet Ellis

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Montana establishes the Supporting Bowhunters with Disabilities program, allowing individuals purchasing hunting licenses to voluntarily donate $1 or more to help fund specialized archery equipment. The legislation creates a dedicated state special revenue account for these donations, grants rulemaking authority to the department, and takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Why it matters

Hunters purchasing licenses gain a new optional donation mechanism, while nonprofit organizations assisting disabled archers gain access to a new funding stream administered through a newly established state account.

Background
  • Montana hunting licenses are sold through a network of authorized license agents and the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, supporting various state conservation and wildlife funds. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Hunters with disabilities

Eligible individuals may receive modified archery equipment purchased with funds from the newly established account.

Directly affected

License agents

Agents are required to collect and submit donations alongside regular license fees without receiving an additional commission on those donations.

Directly affected

Nonprofit organizations exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)

Organizations may receive payments from the account to acquire modified archery equipment for eligible hunters.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can a hunter choose to donate under the new program?
A hunter may donate $1 or more in addition to the price of their hunting license.
Who is eligible to receive equipment purchased through this program?
Montana hunters who possess a permit to modify archery equipment are eligible to receive the equipment.
What happens to donated funds that are not spent by the end of the fiscal year?
Any unspent or unencumbered money at the end of a fiscal year remains in the supporting bowhunters with disabilities account.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

40 actions
  1. May 13, 2025Senate
    Chapter Number Assigned
  2. May 8, 2025SenateEnrolled
    (S) Signed by Governor
  3. Apr 30, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to Governor
  4. Apr 29, 2025House
    (H) Signed by Speaker
  5. Apr 23, 2025Senate
    (S) Signed by President
  6. Apr 18, 2025Senate
    (S) Returned from Enrolling
Show 34 earlier actions
  1. Apr 16, 2025Senate
    (S) Sent to Enrolling
  2. Apr 16, 2025House
    (H) 3rd Reading
  3. Apr 16, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  4. Apr 15, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading
  5. Apr 15, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  6. Apr 9, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Report
  7. Apr 8, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Executive Action
  8. Apr 7, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
  9. Apr 7, 2025House
    (H) 1st Reading
  10. Apr 7, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Referred to Committee
  11. Apr 4, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to House
  12. Apr 4, 2025Senate
    (S) 3rd Reading
  13. Apr 4, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  14. Apr 3, 2025Senate
    (S) 2nd Reading
  15. Apr 3, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  16. Apr 2, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Report
  17. Apr 1, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Executive Action
  18. Mar 18, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Tabled in Committee
  19. Feb 24, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Printed
  20. Feb 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Signed
  21. Feb 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Received
  22. Feb 13, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  23. Feb 13, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  24. Feb 13, 2025Senate
    (S) Fiscal Note Requested
  25. Jan 30, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
  26. Jan 29, 2025SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  27. Jan 29, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  28. Dec 20, 2024House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  29. Dec 19, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  30. Dec 18, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  31. Dec 18, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  32. Dec 11, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  33. Dec 11, 2024House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  34. Oct 30, 2024House
    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Janet EllisSenate · District 41DemocraticPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

Montana, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
locationMontana“Jurisdiction where the legislation applies.”Map →
OrganizationMontana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks“Tasked with depositing donations, adopting rules, and managing the special reven”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy5
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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