Senate Bill 121 seeks to amend the Montana Land Use Planning Act by enhancing local government authority over development applications and improving public participation in the planning process. The bill introduces new provisions that require local governments to provide additional opportunities for public comment on proposed developments and clarifies public notice requirements. It allows cities to maintain extraterritorial zoning authority and mandates that a public hearing must occur before a planning commission hears an appeal, thereby promoting transparency and community involvement. The bill also specifies amendments related to land divisions excluded from subdivision review and outlines requirements for stormwater drainage and municipal facilities. Key amendments include the requirement for the planning commission and governing body to hold a public hearing to hear appeals de novo, along with a mandate that notice of the appeal must be published as provided in 7-1-2121 or 7-1-4127, as applicable. The bill establishes a timeline for appeals and clarifies that individuals cannot challenge a land use decision in district court until they have exhausted their administrative appeal process. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the land use planning process while ensuring that local governments and the public are adequately informed and engaged in decision-making.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_1(1): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_1(2): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_1(3): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_1(4): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_1(5): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_1(6): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_1(7): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_1: 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(1): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(10): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(11): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(12): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(13): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(2): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(3): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(4): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(5): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(6): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(7): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(8): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2(9): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_2: 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_3(1): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_3(2): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_3(3): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_3(4): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_3: 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-104, 76-25-301, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(1): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(10): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(2): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(3): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(4): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(5): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(6): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(7): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(8): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X(9): 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503
SB0121_X: 2-3-102, 2-3-104, 7-2-4734, 76-2-310, 76-4-125, 76-4-127, 76-25-103, 76-25-104, 76-25-106, 76-25-301, 76-25-305, 76-25-408, 76-25-410, 76-25-503