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HB134 • 2025

Revise FWP crimestoppers program to allow financial rewards and reward permits

Revise FWP crimestoppers program to allow financial rewards and reward permits

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Curtis Cochran
Last action
2025-05-20
Official status
(H) Died in Process
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the exact nature or amount of financial rewards or conditions for reward permits.

Update Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Crimestoppers Program

This bill allows the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to offer financial rewards and reward permits as part of their crimestoppers program.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to provide financial rewards for information leading to the prosecution of crimes related to fish, wildlife, and parks.
  • Permits the department to give special permits as incentives for providing helpful information about such crimes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
  • People who provide information leading to the prosecution of fish, wildlife, and parks-related crimes

Terms To Know

Crimestoppers Program
A program that encourages people to report criminal activity related to fish, wildlife, and parks.
Reward Permits
Special permits given as an incentive for providing information about crimes involving fish, wildlife, or parks.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not specify the exact amount of financial rewards that could be offered.
  • It is unclear how many reward permits will be issued and under what conditions.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-20 HOUSE

    (H) Died in Process

  2. 2025-03-12 HOUSE

    (H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal

  3. 2025-01-30 HOUSE

    (H) Tabled in Committee

  4. 2025-01-30 HOUSE

    (H) Tabled in Committee

  5. 2025-01-23 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  6. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing Canceled

  7. 2025-01-21 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing Canceled

  8. 2025-01-13 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Received

  9. 2025-01-13 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Signed

  10. 2025-01-13 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Printed

  11. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  12. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (H) Introduced

  13. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Requested

  14. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  15. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  16. 2024-12-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  17. 2024-12-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  18. 2024-12-03 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  19. 2024-12-03 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  20. 2024-11-22 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  21. 2024-10-31 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  22. 2024-09-27 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Revise FWP crimestoppers program to allow financial rewards and reward permits

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 134.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 134
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 134
2 INTRODUCED BY C. COCHRAN
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE, AND
5 PARKS TO OFFER FINANCIAL REWARDS AND REWARD PERMITS AS PART OF THE FISH, WILDLIFE,
6 AND PARKS CRIMESTOPPERS PROGRAM; AND AMENDING SECTION 87-5-605, MCA.”
7
8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
9
10Section 1. Section 87-5-605, MCA, is amended to read:
11 "87-5-605. Powers and duties of department -- rules. (1) The department shall:
12 (a) create, maintain, and promote a statewide fish, wildlife, and parks crimestoppers program in
13 order to assist law enforcement agencies in detecting and combating fish, wildlife, and parks-related crimes;
14 and
15 (b) consider the board's recommendations and take action on them.
16 (2) The department may:
17 (a) advise and assist in the creation and maintenance of local programs, including neighborhood
18 watch programs;
19 (b) encourage the channeling of information from state and local programs to law enforcement
20 agencies;
21 (c) foster the detection of fish, wildlife, and parks-related crimes by the public;
22 (d) encourage the public, through a reward program or otherwise, to provide information that
23 assists in the prosecution of fish, wildlife, and parks-related crimes;
24 (e) offer financial rewards, reward permits, or other incentives to the public;
25 (e)(f) promote state and local programs through the media;
26 (f)(g) accept gifts, grants, or donations for the furtherance of the program and spend these in
27 compliance with the conditions of the gifts, grants, or donations; and
28 (g)(h) adopt rules necessary to administer the provisions of this part."
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 134.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 134
1 - END -