Montana’s State Parks are in danger of losing a critical source of funding. We need your help to stop it. In 2021, Montana dedicated 4% of recreational marijuana tax revenue to support State Parks, providing much-needed resources for park maintenance, visitor services, trail improvements, and accessibility projects. Now, Senate Bill 307 (SB 307) threatens to eliminate this funding, cutting an estimated $12 million from State Parks, trails, and wildlife programs and over $20 million from Habitat Montana over the next two years.
What’s at Stake for State Parks?
If passed, SB 307 would completely eliminate marijuana tax revenue for outdoor programs, including:
- State Parks (4%) – Reducing funding for maintenance, improvements, and park operations.
- Trails & Recreational Facilities (4%) – Impacting trail upkeep and outdoor recreation access.
- Wildlife Habitat (20%) – Cutting support for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks conservation efforts.
- Nongame Wildlife Management (4%) – Threatening programs that protect species and habitats.
Without this funding, Montana’s parks, trails, and public lands will suffer, affecting visitor experiences and our ability to maintain and improve parks in the future..
Take Action to Protect State Parks: We must act now to protect the funding that keeps our parks open and accessible. Here’s how.
Find your Legislator: Not sure who your local Senator and House Representatives are? Visit https://www.legmt.gov/districts/ and select your area on the map to find your local legislator.
Fine Tune your Message: Short and to-the-point messages are the most effective. Here is an example. “Dear (name), I strongly oppose SB 307 because it eliminates critical funding for Montana State Parks, trails, and outdoor recreation. These funds are essential for maintaining our parks, improving accessibility, and ensuring future generations can enjoy Montana’s great outdoors. Please vote NO on SB 307.”
Email: Find your Legislator’s email here: https://www.legmt.gov/legislators/
By Phone: Calling your Legislators is easy, just call the Session Information Desk and leave a message: (406) 444-4800 (Available Mon-Fri 7:30 AM – 5 PM, Sat 8 AM – Adjournment) Your message will be delivered to your lawmakers!
By mail: Mail your Legislator at:
| Senator (NAME) | Representative (NAME) |
| Montana Senate | Montana House of Representatives |
| P.O. Box 200500 | P.O. Box 200400 |
| Helena, MT 59620-0500 | Helena, MT 59620-0400 |
Streamline your communications with your Montana Legislators. Register for public participation at https://participate.legmt.gov/ for more ways to get involved.
Make a donation today to support our advocacy efforts and keep our parks funded, accessible, and thriving! https://montanastateparksfoundation.org/donations/givewp-donation-form-2/
Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee Contact List
| Committee Member | Senate District | |
| Mark Noland (Chair) | SD 6 – Bigfork | [email protected] |
| Willis Curdy (Vice Chair) | SD 49 – Missoula | [email protected] |
| Jeremy Trebas (Vice Chair) | SD 10 – Great Falls | [email protected] |
| Jason Ellsworth | SD 43 – Hamilton | [email protected] |
| Bruce “Butch” Gillespie | SD 9 – Ethridge | [email protected] |
| Gregg Hunter | SD 15 – Glasgow | [email protected] |
| Denley Loge | SD 45 – St Regis | [email protected] |
| Jacinda Morigeau | SD 46 – Arlee | [email protected] |
| Sara Novak | SD 36 – Anaconda | [email protected] |
| Bob Phalen | SD 17 – Lindsay | [email protected] |
| Susan Webber | SD 8 – Browning | [email protected] |
| Daniel Zolnikov | SD 22 – Billings | [email protected] |
Montana’s State Parks rely on this funding to serve millions of visitors each year. Help us protect our parks. Take action today!
