The bill amends Section 22-3-1306 of the Montana Museums Act of 2020, focusing on the criteria for recommending grants under the Historic Preservation Grant Program. It specifies that projects must ensure a significant portion of the facility is open to public access, replacing the previous requirement of providing only a private benefit with a stipulation for a limited public benefit. The criteria for grant recommendations have been expanded to include the protection of building envelopes and internal utility systems, as well as the degree of local contribution to the project, which mandates for-profit entities to match grant funding dollar-for-dollar.

Additionally, the bill removes the requirement for assessing the expected ongoing economic benefit to the state from project completion and emphasizes the anticipated public benefit, including immediate facility use post-completion. It also introduces a compliance requirement for government applicants with specific sections of the Montana Constitution and relevant state laws, while exempting non-government applicants from this provision. The Department of Commerce is tasked with adopting necessary rules to implement the program, ensuring compatibility with other state programs.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 22-3-1306
HB0756_1(1): 22-3-1306
HB0756_1(2): 22-3-1306
HB0756_1(3): 22-3-1306
HB0756_1(4): 22-3-1306
HB0756_1(5): 22-3-1306
HB0756_1(6): 22-3-1306
HB0756_1(7): 22-3-1306
HB0756_1(8): 22-3-1306
HB0756_1: 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(1): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(10): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(11): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(2): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(3): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(4): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(5): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(6): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(7): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(8): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X(9): 22-3-1306
HB0756_X: 22-3-1306