Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise the state's ownership of lessee water rights used on state lands and outlines a new process for the Land Board to authorize legal assertions of ownership over privately owned water rights temporarily utilized on state lands. The bill removes previous restrictions on state ownership of water rights and introduces a requirement for the Department to notify lessees or water right owners of its intention to seek authorization for ownership through legal proceedings. It also mandates that the Department provide a list of water rights it has obtained ownership of since July 1, 1982, to the board within 180 days of the act's effective date.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 77-6-301 of the Montana Code Annotated to clarify the types of improvements that can be made on state lands, including the addition of water rights. It allows water right owners with state land leases to use water from various sources for beneficial use on state trust land during the lease period and specifies that they can remove associated works without prior authorization from the Department, provided they notify the Department within 90 days of removal. The bill emphasizes public participation in hearings regarding the Department's requests for ownership interests in water rights, ensuring that lessees and water right owners can present their cases.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 77-6-301
SB0263_1(1): 77-6-301
SB0263_1(2): 77-6-301
SB0263_1: 77-6-301
SB0263_2(1): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(10): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(11): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(12): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(2): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(3): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(4): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(5): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(6): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(7): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(8): 77-6-301
SB0263_2(9): 77-6-301
SB0263_2: 77-6-301