This bill aims to eliminate the laws related to nonresident landowner preference for B-10 big game combination licenses in Montana. It amends Section 87-2-115 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to establish a preference point system for distributing Class B-10 and Class B-11 nonresident licenses. The bill specifies that the department will issue 75% of these licenses based on the number of preference points accumulated by applicants, while the remaining 25% will be awarded to those who have not purchased any preference points. Additionally, it introduces a new requirement for nonresidents purchasing a second preference point to provide written affirmation of their outfitter at the time of application.

Furthermore, the bill repeals Section 87-2-714, which previously provided landowner preference for Class B-10 nonresident licenses. The effective date for this act is set for March 1, 2026. The changes aim to create a more equitable system for nonresident hunters while also addressing public access to hunting lands through the allocation of fees collected from preference point purchases.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 87-2-115
HB0519_1: 87-2-115