The bill establishes a legal framework for the disposition of abandoned lots in public cemeteries in Montana. A lot may be deemed abandoned if it has not been used for interment for 75 years or more and there has been no contact with the owner or heirs during that time. Individuals can petition the cemetery administrator for a finding of abandonment, which requires detailed information about the lot and efforts made to locate the owner or heirs. Upon receiving a petition, the cemetery administrator is required to publish a notice regarding the petition, with specific guidelines for publication depending on the ownership of the cemetery.

Key provisions include the requirement for public notice of the petition, which must include details about the lot and a call for any potential claimants to come forward. If no claims are made after the notice period, the lot is considered legally abandoned, allowing the petitioner to purchase it. The bill also outlines exceptions for lots designated for veteran burials and those containing buried human remains, as well as clarifying that privately owned cemeteries are not subject to these regulations unless they choose to adopt them. The bill includes new legal language regarding the publication process and the definitions of terms such as "cemetery administrator" and "plot."