House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to prohibit the leasing of state lands to nonprofit organizations in Montana. The bill introduces new legal language that specifies it is unlawful for any official, employee, or member of a nonprofit organization to lease state lands or timber on behalf of a nonprofit. This amendment is reflected in Section 77-1-113, which now includes restrictions on leasing state lands to nonprofit entities. Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to ensure that the leasing of state trust lands, commercial properties, and other resources is conducted in accordance with this new prohibition.

The bill also provides rulemaking authority to the board overseeing state lands and includes several amendments across multiple sections of the MCA, such as Sections 77-1-204, 77-1-904, and 77-6-503, which clarify that leasing actions must comply with the new restrictions. The amendments emphasize that, except as provided in the new prohibition, the board retains the authority to lease state lands for various purposes, including commercial and resource extraction activities, while ensuring that the interests of the state and its beneficiaries are prioritized.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 77-1-113, 77-1-204, 77-1-904, 77-1-1002, 77-2-364, 77-3-102, 77-3-201, 77-3-301, 77-3-401, 77-3-501, 77-4-101, 77-4-301, 77-6-102, 77-6-202, 77-6-503
HB0647_1(1): 77-1-113, 77-1-204, 77-1-904, 77-1-1002, 77-2-364, 77-3-102, 77-3-201, 77-3-301, 77-3-401, 77-3-501, 77-4-101, 77-4-301, 77-6-102, 77-6-202, 77-6-503
HB0647_1(2): 77-1-113, 77-1-204, 77-1-904, 77-1-1002, 77-2-364, 77-3-102, 77-3-201, 77-3-301, 77-3-401, 77-3-501, 77-4-101, 77-4-301, 77-6-102, 77-6-202, 77-6-503
HB0647_1(3): 77-1-113, 77-1-204, 77-1-904, 77-1-1002, 77-2-364, 77-3-102, 77-3-201, 77-3-301, 77-3-401, 77-3-501, 77-4-101, 77-4-301, 77-6-102, 77-6-202, 77-6-503
HB0647_1: 77-1-113, 77-1-204, 77-1-904, 77-1-1002, 77-2-364, 77-3-102, 77-3-201, 77-3-301, 77-3-401, 77-3-501, 77-4-101, 77-4-301, 77-6-102, 77-6-202, 77-6-503