| Photo credit: iStock John Pitcher |
Tomorrow we're hosting our lobbying event to cover the last few weeks of the legislative session! We'll be joined by Montana Environmental Information Center co-director and lobbyist Anne Hedges. Scroll down for more details and to RSVP!
This week we're prioritizing five bills for you to help us take action on. These include bills targeting bison, enshrining trapping in our state constitution, propping up fossil fuels, and stifling action on climate change. We also have a few more bills at the bottom of the email for you to take action on if you have time, including several bills that discriminate against LGBTQ Montanans.
Also, when calling a legislator or committee, we suggest using the main legislative desk number, (406) 444 - 4800, because the number of calls for or against a bill is publicly recorded. These records help us hold legislators accountable.
For other bills we're following, please check out our bill tracker page. Also, check out our citizen lobbying guide for more links and information, including how to find and contact your senator or representative.
MT Chapter's Last Best Legislative Event:
Gear Up for the Final Sprint
Tomorrow evening, we're hosting a virtual event to highlight several significant bills still moving forward in the Montana legislature, prepare to strategically push back in the last weeks of the session, and discuss what comes next.
Want to get more involved in virtual lobbying or organizing and connect with other folks who care about moving towards a more just and livable future? Then this event is for you! Door prizes included. CLICK HERE for our Facebook event or click the button below to RSVP.
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Help Us Protect Wildlife
HB 302: Require County Approval to Relocate Bison - OPPOSE
This bill undermines Montana's authority to manage wildlife by taking the authority to manage bison from Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and ceding it to county commissioners. This bill has its last vote this afternoon!
- CLICK HERE to use our form to tell your senator to vote no on HB 302
- Call (406) 444 - 4800 to leave a message for your Senator urging them to vote no on HB 302
- You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet for HB 302
HB 318: Clarify Definition of Bison - OPPOSE
HB 318 limits the definition of "wild" bison to only include bison that have never been “reduced to captivity” or subject to the per capita fee for livestock. This more restrictive definition of "wild" is designed to broaden which bison are considered "livestock" in order to limit and prevent bison restoration efforts across Montana. This bill was returned to the House with Amendments, so we still have time to stop it!
- CLICK HERE to use our form to tell your representative to vote no on HB 318
- Call (406) 444 - 4800 to leave a message for your representative urging them to vote no on HB 318
- You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet for HB 318
HB 367: Revise constitutional language regarding harvest heritage - OPPOSE
This bill promotes and enshrines trapping wildlife as a right in the Montana Constitution and gives preference to "hunting, fishing, and trapping by citizens as the primary but not exclusive means of the state's management of wild fish and wildlife populations.." HB 367 includes vague language that prioritizes killing animals over other wildlife management tools and is also designed to prevent citizen ballot initiatives that seek to limit methods of hunting and trapping, such as a 2016 ballot initiative that tried to prohibit trapping on public lands. This bill has a hearing tomorrow, April 13 at 3:00 PM in the Senate Fish and Game Committee. Our best chance to stop bills is in committee!
- Call (406) 444 - 4800 or CLICK HERE to leave a message for the committee urging them to vote no on HB 367
- CLICK HERE to register by noon today to testify against HB 367
Corporate Accountability and Climate Action
SB 379: Generally Revise Coal-Fired Generation Laws - OPPOSE
SB 379 will force NorthWestern Energy's ratepayers to pay more than $1 billion to keep Colstrip Unit 4 operating indefinitely while guaranteeing that NorthWestern earns a profit. This bill also removes the Public Service Commission's oversight of the utility's expenditures related to the Colstrip coal plant, allowing NorthWestern Energy (and not elected officials) to decide how much to charge Montanans for expensive, inefficient polluting coal power. This bill passed the Senate and is headed to the House!
- CLICK HERE to use our form to tell your representative to vote no on SB 379
- Call (406) 444 - 4800 to leave a message for your representative urging them to vote no on SB 379
- CLICK HERE to join our virtual lobbying phone bank this evening at 6:30 PM to stop SB 379
- You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet for SB 379 and on MEIC's video
SB 257: Prohibit local governments from imposing carbon penalties, fees, or taxes - OPPOSE
This bill prohibits local governments from creating local ordinances or policies that regulate carbon and could stifle any efforts to fight climate change at the local level. SB 257 has its third reading today!
- CLICK HERE to use our form to tell your representative to vote no on SB 257
- Call (406) 444 - 4800 to leave a message for your representative urging them to vote no on SB 257
- You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet for SB 257
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If you have time, here are some other bills to take action on this week.
Urge Governor Gianforte to veto SB 215, HB 176, and SB 169
- SB 215 invokes religion in order to legalize discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. This bill would allow individuals and entities to claim exemption from laws and policies if those rules substantially burden the expression of their religious beliefs.
- HB 176 ends same-day voter registration and SB 169 imposes stricter voter ID requirements. Both bills aim to disenfranchise BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color); renters; people with disabilities; rural, lower-income, and younger people; and renters
- Call Governor Gianforte at (406) 444 - 3111 or email him at governor@mt.gov and urge him to veto these bills.
Call on your senator to oppose HB 427, HB 112, HB 481, HB 475, and HB 695
- HB 427 denies potentially life-saving gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth
- HB 112 seeks to prevent transgender youth from participating in school sports
- HB 481 violates our right to protest. Check out our fact sheet HERE and urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose this bill.
- HB 475 seeks to effectively eliminate the renewable portfolio standard. Check out our fact sheet HERE.
- HB 695 is an anti free speech bill that charges people and organizations money before they can comment on environmental impact statements
Call on your representative to oppose SB 280, SB 260, and SJ 16
- SB 280 requires transgender individuals to undergo surgery before they can change the gender on their birth certificate
- SB 260 severely undermines state regulations. Check out our fact sheet HERE
- SJ 16 declares and urges support for the Keystone XL Pipeline
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If you find these alerts, our social media, or Chapter website useful during this legislative session, please consider giving a non-deductible donation now to support our work. The financial implications of COVID have stretched the Montana Chapter’s ability to continue its current level of service without your help.
Any gift makes a difference. Donate at the link at the bottom of the page or send a check to P.O. Box 7201, Missoula, MT 59807.
Want to receive mobile alerts about urgent Legislative actions and other Sierra Club info? Text SIERRA to 69866, or sign up online by at: https://www.sierraclub.org/mobile-alerts.
By providing your email and/or mobile number you consent to receive email, cell phone and text communications from Sierra Club, the Sierra Club Foundation, Sierra Club PACs and Chapters concerning news, action opportunities, and other important information about climate solutions, nature protection, and other issues we work to address.
Thank you for every action you take to defend our lands, water, wildlife, and a healthy climate.
With gratitude,
Your Montana Chapter Legislative Team |
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