The bill establishes protections for working animals in Montana by prohibiting local governments from enacting ordinances or resolutions that ban their use in commerce or service. It defines "working animals" as nonhuman animals used for specific duties in various sectors, excluding certain livestock. The bill guarantees the right to utilize working animals for their benefit and the benefit of those they serve, while also clarifying that local governments can still regulate animal care, public health, and safety without conflicting with this new law.
Additionally, the bill amends Section 7-1-111 of the Montana Code Annotated to include a prohibition against local governments enacting ordinances that create undue hardship related to the use of working animals. This amendment ensures that any local regulations that conflict with the protections outlined in the bill are superseded, while still allowing for local zoning ordinances to remain intact. The bill aims to codify these provisions as a new part in Title 81, chapter 29 of the Montana Code.
Statutes affected: LC Text: 7-1-111
SB0096_1: 7-1-111
SB0096_1(1): 7-1-111