Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant reforms to the management of water rights in Montana by transitioning jurisdiction from the Water Court to local District Courts after the Water Court completes its adjudication of pre-1973 water rights. The bill stipulates that once final decrees are issued, the Water Court, along with its judges and divisions, will cease operations, thereby enhancing local control and minimizing government expansion. It mandates that district courts enforce these final decrees and outlines procedures for handling water cases, including the potential use of judges pro tempore and special masters.

The legislation amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), particularly regarding the jurisdiction of water judges and the enforcement of decrees. It specifies that the Water Court's jurisdiction ends upon the issuance of a final decree for a basin, requiring all related matters to be filed in the appropriate district court. Additionally, the bill introduces new notification requirements for state officials upon the issuance of final decrees and clarifies the process for issuing certificates of water rights. It also allows for the consolidation of hearings for multiple objections and grants the department discretion to extend application processing deadlines. Importantly, the bill retroactively applies to final decrees issued before its effective date, ensuring that past decisions are also impacted by these changes.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-7-101, 3-7-212, 3-7-224, 3-7-501, 85-2-214, 85-2-234, 85-2-236, 85-2-309, 85-2-406
SB0186_1(1): 3-7-101, 3-7-212, 3-7-224, 3-7-501, 85-2-214, 85-2-234, 85-2-236, 85-2-309, 85-2-406
SB0186_1(2): 3-7-101, 3-7-212, 3-7-224, 3-7-501, 85-2-214, 85-2-234, 85-2-236, 85-2-309, 85-2-406
SB0186_1(3): 3-7-101, 3-7-212, 3-7-224, 3-7-501, 85-2-214, 85-2-234, 85-2-236, 85-2-309, 85-2-406
SB0186_1(4): 3-7-101, 3-7-212, 3-7-224, 3-7-501, 85-2-214, 85-2-234, 85-2-236, 85-2-309, 85-2-406
SB0186_1(5): 3-7-101, 3-7-212, 3-7-224, 3-7-501, 85-2-214, 85-2-234, 85-2-236, 85-2-309, 85-2-406
SB0186_1: 3-7-101, 3-7-212, 3-7-224, 3-7-501, 85-2-214, 85-2-234, 85-2-236, 85-2-309, 85-2-406