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x (Helmville)

pie (Ethridge)

simonson, Deputy EO

Wilham, Adm Asst to EO

Doely, LLB Program Manager

aylett, Centralized Services

roup

chaels

Martinell

Stall Present Mike Honeycutt, EO Lindsey Simon, Agency Legal Counsel Rick Corder, Centralized Services Tom Shultz, Centralized Services Evan Waters, Centralized Services Brian Simonson, Deputy EO Donna Wilham, Adm Asst to EO Leslie Doely, LLB Program Manager Dale Haylett, Centralized Services

(Joe Kipp attended the meeting by ZOOM)

Staff Present

Jordan Mannix (Helmville) Doreen Gillespie (Ethridge)

Donna Wilham, Adm Asst to EC Leslie Doely, LLB Program Man Dale Haylett, Centralized Service

MT Department of Livestock Board Room #319/Helena, MT

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Raina Blackman moved to approve moving forward with rulemaking for Item #1 of the New Rule 1 (32.25.101) - Loss Mitigation Program Applications and Appeals,

(24:28) 10:24 AM

MOTION/VOTE

Leslie Doely explained that Brian Simonson, Lindsey Simon and she had worked together to draft language for a new ARM 32.25.101, dealing with the timeliness of claims submissions and appeals to the Livestock Loss Board

(18:25) 10:18 AM – ADMINISTRATIVE RULE: TIMELINESS OF CLAIMS SUBMISSIONS

It was reported by both Lindsey Simon and Mike Honeycutt that a halt was put on individual public participation rules because there was work being done in the Governor's Office on enterprise-wide public participation rules

(17:03) 10:17 AM – ADMINISTRATIVE RULE: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

(17:03) 10:17 AM

OLD BUSINESS

Dalin Tidwell, State Director for USDA Wildlife Services, shared Investigative Reports (IRs) for Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Mountain Lion and Wolf, from October 1, 2025 to current, saying that with the unique weather, it had been fairly slow.

(11:17) 10:11 AM - USDA Wildlife Services Update (if available)

Leslie Doely reported on the graphs and tables she had prepared for the Board, all of which, so far, covered calendar year 2025 paid claims, as there had been no claims or losses that had happened yet in 2026

Brian Simonson reported on the Budget Status of the LLB, reporting that it was quite healthy with an expectation, at the end of the fiscal year, of spending all of the Operational side of the budget on what was remaining on Claims and having a goal of moving expenses around to get General Fund dollars down to zero

(4:16) 10:04 AM - BUDGET AND CLAIMS STATUS UPDATE

Raina Blackman moved to approve the minutes from the Montana Livestock Loss Board November 20, 2025 meeting. Doreen Gillespie seconded. The motion passed.

(3:56) 10:04 AM

MOTION/VOTE

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(1:45:10) 12:29 PM RECONVENE

(1:45:08) 11:45 AM LUNCH

(1:36:11) 11:36 AM – SET DATE FOR NEXT AWARD CYCLE The LLB set the date for the next grants award cycle for Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Mike Honeycutt reminded the LLB that what had been approved was moving forward a “concept” to the Office of Budget and Program Planning that would hopefully, make its way to the Legislature

Jordan Mannix moved that donkeys and alpacas be added to the Livestock Loss Board predation claims list. Joe Kipp seconded. The motion passed.

(1:24:27) 11:24 AM

MOTION/VOTE

Raina Blackman moved to add all species to the Livestock Loss predation claims list that had per capita fee assessed to them. Jordan Mannix seconded. Raina Blackman withdrew her motion at (1:14:25) 11:34 AM.

(51:25) 10:51 AM

MOTION/VOTE

John Sampsel requested that before a break was taken that some of the Legislative Items be addressed

(51:03) 10:51 AM – LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

(51:03) 10:51 AM

NEW BUSINESS

Leslie Doely presented the results of an eagle depredation survey that had been requested by the LLB. She reported that she had received 35 responses, with 20 of those reporting that the issues could be either from eagles or ravens

(36:52) 10:37 AM – EAGLE DEPREDATION UPDATE AND SURVEY RESULTS

and #3 as written in the New Rule 1 (32.25.101) - Loss Mitigation Program Applications and Appeals, as presented by Leslie Doely. Doreen Gillespie seconded. The motion passed.

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Jordan Mannix moved to award the full requested grant amount of $1,661.80 to Converse Ranch. Doreen Gillespie seconded. The motion passed.

(2:20:46) 1:04 PM

MOTION/VOTE

(2:15:29) 1:00 PM – Converse Ranch

Raina Blackman moved to award the full requested grant amount of $20,000 to Centennial Valley Association. Doreen Gillespie seconded. The motion passed.

(2:14:05) 12:58 PM

MOTION/VOTE

(2:11:15) 12:56 PM – Centennial Valley Association

Jordan Mannix moved to award the full requested grant amount of $3,117.45 to Holland Ranch Company. Raina Blackman seconded. The motion passed.

(2:09:23) 12:54 PM

MOTION/VOTE

(2:04:53) 12:49 PM – Holland Ranch Company

Doreen Gillespie moved to award the full requested grant amount of $1047.87 to Bill Martinell. Jordan Mannix seconded. The motion passed.

(2:01:41) 12:46 PM

MOTION/VOTE

(1:58:10) 12:43 PM – Bill Martinell

Raina Blackman moved to award the full requested grant amount of $17,000 to Pipestone Grazing Association, LLC. Doreen Gillespie seconded. The motion passed.

(1:56:08) 12:37 PM

MOTION/VOTE

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(3:05:08) 2:05 PM – LEGISLATIVE ITEMS (Continued)

(3:05:04) 2:04 PM

NEW BUSINESS (Continued)

(3:05:00) 2:04 PM RECONVENE

(3:04:55) 1:49 AM RECESS

Doreen Gillespie moved to award the full requested grant amount of $24,500 to Ruby Valley Conservation District. Raina Blackman seconded. The motion passed.

(3:01:05) 1:45 PM

MOTION/VOTE

(2:56:24) 1:41 PM – Ruby Valley Conservation District

Jordan Mannix moved to award a partial grant amount of $20,517 to Rebish/Konen Livestock, with a stipulation that we get back to them about the remaining $13,000. Raina Blackman seconded. The motion passed.

(2:55:00) 1:38 PM

MOTION/VOTE

Jordan Mannix moved to award the full requested grant amount of $29,617 to Rebish/Konen Livestock. Raina Blackman seconded. Jordan Mannix withdrew his motion at (2:54:07) 1:38 PM.

(2:40:10) 1:24 PM

MOTION/VOTE

(2:37:01) 1:21 PM – Rebish/Konen Livestock

Raina Blackman moved to award the full requested grant amount of $9,869.30 to Sam Ortman. Jordan Mannix seconded. Joe Kipp voted no. The motion passed.

(2:28:02) 1:12 PM

MOTION/VOTE

(2:25:05) 1:10 PM – Sam Ortman

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Raina Blackman moved to reimburse up to $500 for injured guard dogs, utilizing the money in the Loss Account. Doreen Gillespie seconded. The motion passed. Joe Kipp abstained from the vote.

(4:09:49) 3:09 PM

MOTION/VOTE

There was discussion on a request from Raina Blackman to propose to the Legislature that the LLB cover veterinary bills up to $500 for injured livestock guardian dogs

(4:06:10) 3:06 PM – Reimburse Vet Bills up to $500 for Injured Livestock Guard Dogs

There was LLB, DOL staff, industry members and general public discussion on whether or not to request additional annual general fund from the Legislature to support an LLB multiplier on qualified livestock depredations. No motion was made

(3:57:32) 2:57 PM – Multiplier

Joe Kipp moved to ask the Legislature to fund Wildlife Services for another $100,000, in addition to what the LLB already pays them. Doreen Gillespie seconded. Raina Blackman, Joe Kipp voted yes. Doreen Gillespie, Jordan Mannix voted no. John Sampsel broke the tie and voted yes. The motion passed.

(3:43:52) 2:41 PM

MOTION/VOTE

The LLB, DOL staff, industry members and general public discussed requesting more funding from the Legislature for Wildlife Services, in addition to what was already given to them by the LLB

(3:29:08) 2:28 PM – Wildlife Services Funding

Joe Kipp moved that protected, predatory and migratory birds be added to the Legislative list of covered predators. Raina Blackman seconded. The amended motion passed.

(3:26:17) 2:27 PM

MOTION/VOTE (Amended)

be added to the predator loss eligibility rolls. Raina Blackman seconded. Motion passed as amended (below).