---
type: "Bill"
title: "Revising landowner preference qualifications for elk to require finalized land ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land"
description: "Revising landowner preference qualifications for elk to require finalized land ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land"
jurisdiction: "us/states/mt"
legislature: "Montana Legislature"
session: "2025"
identifier: "SB 235"
citation: "Montana SB 235 (2025)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Fish", "Property", "Rule Making"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Kenneth Bogner"]
version_count: 53
action_count: 41
vote_count: 9
first_action: "2024-11-04T14:25:03+00:00"
last_action: "2025-05-08T20:18:25+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/ef3cd6a0-b2d1-45cd-9c07-70bc6603884e"
source_url: "https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0749?open_tab=sum"
source_hash: "f105a5c54b2054149679f433b629481501575e31c35a76f9c0d4f80ccbde2c5b"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-mt"]
---

# Montana SB 235 (2025) — Revising landowner preference qualifications for elk to require finalized land ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **LC0749.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=272987)
2. **SB0235.001.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=280843)
3. **SB0235.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=284000)
4. **SB0235.002.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-not condensed.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=284001)
5. **SB0235.003.001_Amendments-in-Context_final-full.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=302239)
6. **SB0235_1(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=277413)
7. **SB0235_1(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282704)
8. **SB0235_1(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282705)
9. **SB0235_1(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282706)
10. **SB0235_1(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282707)
11. **SB0235_1(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304827)
12. **SB0235_1.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=276903)
13. **SB0235_2(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282709)
14. **SB0235_2(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285308)
15. **SB0235_2(11).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304826)
16. **SB0235_2(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282716)
17. **SB0235_2(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282717)
18. **SB0235_2(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282767)
19. **SB0235_2(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282768)
20. **SB0235_2(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282779)
21. **SB0235_2(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285305)
22. **SB0235_2(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285306)
23. **SB0235_2(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285307)
24. **SB0235_2.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=282708)
25. **SB0235_3(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285310)
26. **SB0235_3(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285311)
27. **SB0235_3(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285400)
28. **SB0235_3(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285401)
29. **SB0235_3(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285753)
30. **SB0235_3(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=302558)
31. **SB0235_3(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304824)
32. **SB0235_3(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304830)
33. **SB0235_3.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=285309)
34. **SB0235_4(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304821)
35. **SB0235_4(10).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=310293)
36. **SB0235_4(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304823)
37. **SB0235_4(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304843)
38. **SB0235_4(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304890)
39. **SB0235_4(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=307341)
40. **SB0235_4(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=307440)
41. **SB0235_4(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=308197)
42. **SB0235_4(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=309508)
43. **SB0235_4(9).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=309509)
44. **SB0235_4.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=304036)
45. **SB0235_X(1).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=316967)
46. **SB0235_X(2).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=320540)
47. **SB0235_X(3).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=321804)
48. **SB0235_X(4).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=321805)
49. **SB0235_X(5).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=321806)
50. **SB0235_X(6).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=324742)
51. **SB0235_X(7).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=325979)
52. **SB0235_X(8).pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=327422)
53. **SB0235_X.pdf** (committee substitute) — [source](https://api.legmt.gov/docs/v1/documents/getContent?documentId=311073)

## Votes

- Do Pass — **50–0** (pass) · upper
- do_pass_as_amended — **12–0** (pass) · upper
- Do Concur — **98–0** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass — **50–0** (pass) · upper
- AMD-SB0235.002.001 Bogner D/PASS — **49–0** (pass) · upper
- Do Concur — **97–0** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass As Amended — **49–0** (pass) · upper
- be_concurred_in_as_amended — **19–1** (pass) · lower
- Do Pass — **50–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Kenneth Bogner — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2024-11-04T14:25:03+00:00** (LC) Drafter Assigned
- **2024-11-04T14:25:03+00:00** (LC) Draft On Hold
- **2025-01-20T17:04:45+00:00** (LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
- **2025-01-20T21:02:51+00:00** (LC) Draft in Legal Review
- **2025-01-20T22:32:08+00:00** (LC) Draft in Edit
- **2025-01-21T14:53:48+00:00** (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- **2025-01-21T16:54:45+00:00** (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- **2025-01-22T20:22:30+00:00** (LC) Draft in Assembly
- **2025-01-25T22:35:56+00:00** (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- **2025-01-29T17:10:34+00:00** (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- **2025-01-29T17:15:58+00:00** (S) Introduced
- **2025-01-29T20:42:16+00:00** (S) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-01-30T22:36:41+00:00** (S) Referred to Committee - (S) Fish and Game `referral-committee`
- **2025-01-30T23:18:20+00:00** (S) Hearing - (S) Fish and Game
- **2025-02-13T22:08:00+00:00** (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended - (S) Fish and Game `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-14T22:13:00+00:00** (S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended - (S) Fish and Game `committee-passage`
- **2025-02-19T22:10:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried `reading-2`
- **2025-02-19T22:12:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading Passed as Amended `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-02-21T21:32:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-02-21T22:29:59+00:00** (S) Transmitted to House
- **2025-02-22T15:13:37+00:00** (H) Referred to Committee - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks `referral-committee`
- **2025-02-22T16:09:30+00:00** (H) First Reading `reading-1`
- **2025-03-17T22:01:18+00:00** (H) Hearing - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- **2025-04-02T01:18:01+00:00** (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- **2025-04-02T23:41:00+00:00** (H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended - (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- **2025-04-08T19:00:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-08T20:03:00+00:00** (H) 2nd Reading Concurred `reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-09T19:00:00+00:00** (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-09T19:53:00+00:00** (H) 3rd Reading Concurred `passage, reading-3`
- **2025-04-09T20:50:16+00:00** (H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
- **2025-04-11T16:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading `reading-2`
- **2025-04-11T16:48:00+00:00** (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments Concurred `amendment-amendment, amendment-passage, reading-2, reading-2`
- **2025-04-12T15:00:00+00:00** (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading `reading-3`
- **2025-04-12T20:50:00+00:00** (S) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House `passage, passage, reading-3, reading-3`
- **2025-04-14T12:19:22+00:00** (S) Sent to Enrolling
- **2025-04-14T16:37:20+00:00** (S) Returned from Enrolling
- **2025-04-21T22:00:51+00:00** (S) Signed by President `passage`
- **2025-04-25T21:15:16+00:00** (H) Signed by Speaker `passage`
- **2025-04-25T22:00:05+00:00** (S) Transmitted to Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2025-05-05T19:27:00+00:00** (S) Signed by Governor `executive-signature`
- **2025-05-08T20:18:25+00:00** Chapter Number Assigned `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/ef3cd6a0-b2d1-45cd-9c07-70bc6603884e`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Montana legislature records).