The bill, introduced as Senate Bill No. 1, revises the definition of "blighted area" and the statement of policy for municipalities utilizing urban renewal powers, including tax increment financing. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to establish clearer criteria for identifying blighted areas, which are now defined as those that pose risks to public health, safety, and welfare, and contribute to crime and property value depreciation. The bill emphasizes the state's commitment to eliminating blighted areas and mandates the use of tax increment financing to promote their development or redevelopment.

Key amendments include the removal of outdated language regarding blighted area conditions, replaced with specific criteria focusing on structural disrepair, inadequate infrastructure, and safety hazards. The bill requires municipalities to adopt a resolution confirming the existence of blighted areas before exercising urban renewal powers and specifies that property acquired through eminent domain for urban renewal must be deemed blighted and cannot be solely for increasing government tax revenue. Additionally, it clarifies permissible projects under urban renewal, stating that surface property for strip mining or open-pit mining of coal does not qualify as a public use and cannot be pursued through eminent domain. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_1(1): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_1(2): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_1(3): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_1(4): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_1(5): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_1(6): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_1: 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(1): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(10): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(11): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(12): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(2): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(3): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(4): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(5): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(6): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(7): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(8): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2(9): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_2: 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_3: 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(1): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(10): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(11): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(12): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(13): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(2): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(3): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(4): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(5): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(6): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(7): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(8): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X(9): 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102
SB0001_X: 7-15-4202, 7-15-4206, 7-15-4210, 7-15-4259, 70-30-102