GOP to Continue Assault on Stream Access

As we told you last month, the GOP has sought to reignite a fight that was settled in past legislative sessions. This time their assault is on the stream access rights Montanans currently enjoy.

Tomorrow, their assault moves forward as Rep. Welborn’s HB 309, which seeks to restrict access to hundreds of Montana’s streams and rivers, is heard in heard in the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee. This is the last opportunity Montanans will have to comment publicly on this bill.

The Republican majority in the House has already pushed this bill through their chamber, however Senate Democrats, including Sen. Van Dyk who has long been a champion of stream access in the state, have vowed to put up a fight to stop it from moving any further.

Opponents of the measure have organized a rally set to take place just before the bill is heard in committee.

If this bill passes out of committee, Republicans will be one step closer to restricting Montanans’ right to hunting, fishing and recreating on our state’s waterways.