Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] establishes a framework for the temporary leasing of water rights in Montana, allowing appropriators to lease their rights under specific conditions. The bill stipulates that leased water must not exceed the total consumptive use of the appropriation right and must be utilized for beneficial purposes as defined by existing law. It limits the duration of leases to a maximum of 40 days per year and restricts leasing to once every ten years. Additionally, the bill requires that the leased water be measured at the point of diversion and reported to the relevant department, which will notify potentially affected appropriators.

The bill also amends existing definitions in the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), particularly revising the definition of "beneficial use" to encompass temporary leases approved by the department. It enhances the department's rulemaking authority and outlines a process for addressing objections to proposed leases, including the possibility of hearings. Furthermore, the bill clarifies conditions under which an appropriator may be presumed to have abandoned their water rights, ensuring that nonuse due to conservation efforts does not imply abandonment. The bill removes the previous effective date of January 1, 2026, indicating that the new provisions may take effect sooner. Overall, the legislation aims to provide clearer guidelines for the use and preservation of water appropriation rights while safeguarding the interests of appropriators engaged in conservation.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(1): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(10): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(11): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(12): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(13): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(14): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(15): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(16): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(17): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(18): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(19): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(2): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(20): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(21): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(22): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(23): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(24): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(25): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(26): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(27): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(28): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(29): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(3): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(30): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(31): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(32): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(33): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(34): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(35): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(36): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(37): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(38): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(39): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(4): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(40): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(41): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(42): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(43): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(44): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(45): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(5): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(6): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(7): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(8): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1(9): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_1: 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(1): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(10): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(11): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(12): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(13): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(14): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(15): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(2): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(3): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(4): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(5): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(6): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(7): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(8): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2(9): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_2: 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_3(1): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_3(2): 85-2-102, 85-2-404
SB0178_3: 85-2-102, 85-2-404