House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise laws related to navigable rivers and streams in Montana, focusing on digital mapping, hunting regulations, and the responsibilities of the state library. The bill mandates that all entities maintaining digital maps update them according to the state library's standards by August 1, 2025, and subsequently within 30 days of annual updates. Additionally, the bill requires that historical locations no longer occupied by navigable rivers be clearly marked as "Private land surface owned by adjacent landowner. Permission required."

The bill also introduces restrictions on shooting and hunting activities on navigable rivers and islands. It specifies that the public's right to recreational use of surface waters does not include the right to fire firearms from watercraft or banks for hunting big game, and it limits access to islands for hunting purposes. Furthermore, the state library is tasked with updating its global information system map to reflect current navigable river locations and to denote historical sites as private land. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 23-2-302, 90-1-404
HB0240_1(1): 23-2-302, 90-1-404
HB0240_1(2): 23-2-302, 90-1-404
HB0240_1(3): 23-2-302, 90-1-404
HB0240_1(4): 23-2-302, 90-1-404
HB0240_1(5): 23-2-302, 90-1-404
HB0240_1(6): 23-2-302, 90-1-404
HB0240_1: 23-2-302, 90-1-404