Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes to make certain state-owned lands available for homesteading by requiring the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to identify suitable parcels of land. The bill outlines specific criteria for lands to be eligible for homesteading, including legal access, undeveloped status, and the absence of restrictions that would prevent sale or development. Qualified homesteaders must be continuous residents of Montana and can apply to purchase homestead deeds for parcels no larger than 5 acres at full market value, as determined by the department based on comparable sales.

Additionally, the bill mandates that qualified homesteaders must construct a primary residence on the property within a specified timeframe. If they fail to do so within five years, ownership of the property will revert to the state, and the purchase price will be refunded. The bill also grants the department rulemaking authority to implement these provisions effectively. The new section created by this bill is intended to be codified as part of Title 77, chapter 1, part 1 of the Montana Code.