House Bill No. introduced by L. Brewster aims to revise the laws governing the leasing and sale of state land for commercial purposes in Montana. The bill eliminates the requirement for public auctions for state land sales, allowing for individual agreements between lessees and the Department. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to redefine "commercial purpose" by removing "multifamily residential development" and replacing it with "development of real property for eventual use or sale for residential, industrial, or commercial purposes." Additionally, it introduces new provisions regarding the responsibilities of lessees, including the option for lessees to match high bids during sales and the requirement for lessees to settle with purchasers for improvements on sold land.

The bill also repeals several sections of the MCA related to the sale process, including those governing certificates of purchase and procedures in case of default. It establishes new requirements for advertising sales and the terms of payment, including the necessity for a bid bond for prospective buyers. The changes aim to streamline the process of leasing and selling state land, making it more flexible and efficient while ensuring that lessees retain certain rights and responsibilities.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 77-1-902, 77-1-906, 77-2-321, 77-2-322, 77-2-323, 77-2-324, 77-2-325, 77-2-329, 77-2-363
HB0379_1(1): 77-1-902, 77-1-906, 77-2-321, 77-2-322, 77-2-323, 77-2-324, 77-2-325, 77-2-329, 77-2-363
HB0379_1(2): 77-1-902, 77-1-906, 77-2-321, 77-2-322, 77-2-323, 77-2-324, 77-2-325, 77-2-329, 77-2-363
HB0379_1(3): 77-1-902, 77-1-906, 77-2-321, 77-2-322, 77-2-323, 77-2-324, 77-2-325, 77-2-329, 77-2-363
HB0379_1(4): 77-1-902, 77-1-906, 77-2-321, 77-2-322, 77-2-323, 77-2-324, 77-2-325, 77-2-329, 77-2-363
HB0379_1: 77-1-902, 77-1-906, 77-2-321, 77-2-322, 77-2-323, 77-2-324, 77-2-325, 77-2-329, 77-2-363