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 officials, employees, or members of nonprofit organizations to lease state lands or timber on behalf of such organizations. This amendment is reflected in Section 77-1-113, which now includes a provision that explicitly restricts these entities from leasing state lands. Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to ensure that the leasing of state trust lands and other related activities are conducted in accordance with this new prohibition.

The bill also provides rulemaking authority to the board overseeing state lands and includes several amendments to existing sections of the MCA, such as Sections 77-1-204, 77-1-904, and 77-3-301, which clarify that leasing activities are subject to the restrictions outlined in Section 77-1-113(2). These amendments ensure that the board can continue to manage state lands effectively while adhering to the new prohibition against leasing to nonprofit organizations. Overall, the bill seeks to tighten control over state land leasing practices and eliminate potential conflicts of interest involving nonprofit entities.

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: 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