The bill revises the existing Trails and Recreational Facilities Grant Program by establishing a new Trail Stewardship Grant Program. It amends Section 23-2-109 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to specify that eligible entities, including cities, counties, tribal governments, and recreational organizations, can receive funding for a broader range of projects. New eligible projects include trail-related initiatives, economic impact studies, feasibility and planning studies, safety and ethics education, trail data collection, and equipment purchases. The bill also introduces a structured apportionment of grant funding, allocating 40% to motorized projects, 40% to nonmotorized projects, and 20% to projects serving both types of uses.

Additionally, the bill allows for advance payments of up to 75% of the grant amount at the time of award, with the remaining 25% disbursed upon reporting of the initial advance's expenditure. It maintains provisions for administrative costs and stipulates that any unspent funds must revert to the department after three years. The effective date for the implementation of this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 23-2-109
SB0310_1(1): 23-2-109
SB0310_1(2): 23-2-109
SB0310_1(3): 23-2-109
SB0310_1(4): 23-2-109
SB0310_1(5): 23-2-109
SB0310_1: 23-2-109
SB0310_2(1): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(10): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(2): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(3): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(4): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(5): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(6): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(7): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(8): 23-2-109
SB0310_2(9): 23-2-109
SB0310_2: 23-2-109
SB0310_X(1): 23-2-109
SB0310_X(2): 23-2-109
SB0310_X(3): 23-2-109
SB0310_X(4): 23-2-109
SB0310_X(5): 23-2-109
SB0310_X: 23-2-109