The proposed bill aims to prohibit the leasing of state lands to nonprofit organizations in Montana. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to include new restrictions on leasing state lands, specifically stating that 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 prohibition is reflected in the amendments to Section 77-1-113, which now explicitly includes nonprofit organizations in the list of entities that are barred from leasing state lands. Additionally, the bill introduces a series of amendments across various sections of the MCA, which clarify that the board's authority to lease state trust lands and other properties is subject to this new restriction.

The bill also provides rulemaking authority to the board regarding the management and leasing of state lands, ensuring that all leasing actions align with the new prohibition against nonprofit organizations. The amendments emphasize that, except as provided in the newly inserted language, the board retains its existing powers to lease state lands for various purposes, including commercial, agricultural, and mineral extraction, but must now do so without involving nonprofit entities. Overall, the legislation seeks to tighten control over state land leasing and restrict access to nonprofit organizations, thereby altering the landscape of land management in Montana.

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