Wyoming’s 68^th Legislative Session came to a close March 7, 2025, after eight tumultuous weeks. GYC’s Wyoming-based staff, our communications team, and Government Affairs Advisor Richard Garrett were entrenched in the day-to-day, and often minute-by-minute, action as many bills were moving through the legislative process. For the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to remain whole and intact we must actively engage with all stakeholders to craft sound policies that honor Wyoming’s tremendous wildlife, diverse habitats, and remarkable abundance of public lands. Your voice and support are critical for protecting our shared interest in this ecosystem. 

In the Montana Legislature, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition has been working with all of you to protect wolves. Since the start of the legislative session, more than 600 people have spoken up for Montana wolves – THANK YOU! We celebrate as one bad wolf bill dies in the House and continue to monitor two bills that threaten Montana’s wolf population. 

In the Montana State Legislature, two bad bills for wolves – HB 176 and HB 222 – threaten to halve Montana's wolf population, the integrity of community-driven wildlife management, and the state’s ability to appropriately manage wolves.  

For the duration of the three state sessions, GYC’s advocacy team monitored proposed legislation and met regularly to discuss how the bills on our radar were evolving. Throughout the legislative calendar, we kept our eye on bills that fell within the scope of our mission and conservation priorities.

If passed, House Bill 971 would repeal the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) for significant projects that could harm our environment and climate if the Montana Supreme Court were to ever find that Montanans’ right to a clean and healthful environment requires state agencies to consider climate impacts.

Six new wildlife bills are making their way through the Montana State Legislature. Read on to learn about their implications for wildlife, GYC’s position on each bill, and the current status of the legislation.

GYC opposes SJ 14, which is a resolution in the 2023 Montana State Legislature that is bad for bison.

GYC opposes SB 295 as written, which is a bad grizzly bear bill in the 2023 Montana State Legislature.

The legislatures are back in session in the great states of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, which means lawmakers have been sworn in, new bills are being introduced, and the GYC advocacy team is hard at work monitoring potential changes to state policy that affects Greater Yellowstone conservation.