Oppose SB 307: Protecting Montana’s State Parks and Trails

Introduction

Montana’s public lands, state parks, and outdoor recreation opportunities define our way of life and contribute significantly to our economy. Senate Bill 307 proposes a complete reallocation of recreational marijuana tax revenue away from the programs Montanans voted to support, including state parks, trails, and wildlife habitat conservation. This bill threatens to undermine critical funding for maintaining and improving our state parks and trails at a time when federal land management is facing uncertainty, leaving Montana’s outdoor spaces at risk.

The Critical Role of This Funding in State Park and Trail Maintenance

Montana State Parks receive no general fund support. The funding from recreational marijuana sales has been essential to maintaining and improving parks and trails for both residents and visitors. This revenue has:

Funded park maintenance – Keeping restrooms, campgrounds, and visitor facilities clean and operational.
Supported trail upkeep and access – Clearing trails, repairing erosion damage, and ensuring safe outdoor recreation opportunities.
Enhanced visitor services – Improving signage, accessibility, and infrastructure to accommodate increasing use.
Helped address the maintenance backlog – Ensuring Montana’s state parks remain open and safe for future generations.

Without this dedicated funding, our parks and trails will suffer, leading to deteriorating facilities, limited recreational access, and an overall decline in visitor experience. This would not only hurt local communities that rely on outdoor tourism but also diminish the quality of life for Montanans who depend on these spaces for recreation.

Why This Funding is More Important Than Ever

Montana is entering a period of uncertainty regarding federal land access and maintenance. Federal agencies are facing potential funding shortfalls, which could lead to:

Reduced maintenance of national parks and trails – Less funding for trail clearing, waste management, and facility upkeep.
Increased strain on state-managed parks and trails – More visitors turning to state lands if federal lands are neglected or inaccessible.
Greater wildfire risks – Limited resources for wildland fire mitigation and suppression efforts.

Now more than ever, we need our state parks and trails to be as well-maintained as possible to absorb the potential increased use and ensure continued access to outdoor recreation. Eliminating the primary funding source for state park and trail maintenance at this critical time would be a devastating mistake.

The Consequences of SB 307

If passed, SB 307 would completely eliminate marijuana tax revenue allocations from:

State Parks (4%) – Removing millions of dollars in funding for maintenance, operations, and visitor services.
Trails & Recreational Facilities (4%) – Reducing upkeep for the trails Montanans use for hiking, biking, and outdoor recreation.
Wildlife Habitat (20%) – Cutting support for conservation efforts under Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
Nongame Wildlife Management (4%) – Threatening programs that protect species and habitats.

Montana voters chose to dedicate this revenue to these programs, recognizing their importance for our state’s identity, economy, and quality of life. Redirecting all of this funding disregards the will of the people and jeopardizes the progress we have made in maintaining our public lands.

A Smarter Path Forward

While we acknowledge the need for funding in other areas, diverting 100% of this revenue away from public lands, parks, and trails is shortsighted and harmful. A balanced approach—one that preserves at least some of the original allocations—would ensure that Montana does not lose ground on critical outdoor recreation and conservation efforts.

We strongly urge legislators to oppose SB 307 and protect the investments Montana has made in its state parks and trails. Maintaining this funding is essential to keeping our outdoor spaces accessible, safe, and ready for the future.

Montana’s state parks and trails are vital to our way of life. Let’s stand together to keep them funded and maintained.