US EXPLORES LIFTING FEDERAL PROTECTIONS OVER MONTANA GRIZZLY BEARS

EBS STAFF

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Feb. 3 announced that it is exploring whether grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems still require protection under the Endangered Species Act.

State officials provided “substantial” information suggesting that grizzlies have recovered from the threat of extinction in the regions surrounding Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, according to USFWS.

Gov. Greg Gianforte and other Republican officials, who’ve long sought to restore grizzly bear management to state agencies and offer grizzly hunts to the public, welcomed the announcement. Environmental and conservation groups expressed concern over the state’s ability to manage a healthy and sustainable population.

According to USFWS’s last five-year review, there are about 1,100 grizzlies living in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; 740 in the NCDE. Before their near-extinction in the 19th and 20th centuries, an estimated 50,000 grizzlies roamed across much of the American West.

STATE LAWMAKERS DEBATE MEDICAL ‘RIGHT OF CONSCIENCE’ BILL

EBS STAFF

House Bill 303, which would allow health care providers to deny service to patients based on their personal “ethical, moral, or religious beliefs or principles,” was intensely debated during an initial state House Judiciary Committee hearing on Jan. 30.

The bill received more than two hours of testimony from 10 proponents and 22 opponents, drawing support from Montana health care providers and conservative religious groups. Proponents argued that the bill protects freedom of speech and religion for medical providers that object to certain services such as abortion and gender affirming procedures for transgender patients.

Health care providers, medical industry groups and LGBTQ patients urged lawmakers to table the bill, calling the bill a “get-out-of-jail-free card” that employees can use to discriminate against patients.

As of EBS’s press day, the committee has yet to vote on the bill.

Public Notice

Call For Fy24 Resort Tax Funding Applications

The Big Sky Resort Area District is accepting Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for the FY24 (7/1/236/30/24) funding cycle beginning on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. An LOI is an organization’s formal request to apply for Resort Tax funds. Approved projects will be invited to complete Applications beginning Wednesday, March 1, 2023. As required by law, an applicant must be a legal entity formed under the laws of the State of Montana. The applicant must be “an entity” that is capable of both “legally and practically” carrying out the purpose of the allocation and located within the Resort Area District. The applicant must be a governmental unit, corporation, or limited partnership with the capability of being legally bound by an agreement.

LOIs and supporting documents must be completed using the online portal by Wednesday, February 15, 2023, to be considered. Applications and supporting documents must be completed using the online portal and must be submitted by Friday, March 31, 2023, to be considered for funding. More information can be found at ResortTax.Org/Funding or by contacting the District Office at 406-995-3234.