The bill amends Section 87-1-265 of the Montana Code Annotated to revise the laws related to the Block Management Program, which facilitates public access to private and public lands for hunting. It allows the Fish and Wildlife Commission to adopt simplified rules specifically for agreements that provide access to adjacent public lands. The bill outlines the requirements for such agreements, including notifying adjacent public land leaseholders, ensuring compliance with existing lease agreements, and allowing leaseholders the opportunity to support or object to the proposed access agreements.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions that enable the commission to consider leaseholder feedback and potentially exempt agreements from tracking the number of public hunting days provided by landowners. It also establishes a payment structure for landowners participating in these agreements, capping payments at $25,000 per year for those that only provide access to public land for hunting purposes. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the process for landowners and enhance public access to hunting opportunities while maintaining considerations for land management and liability.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 87-1-265
HB0763_1(1): 87-1-265
HB0763_1(2): 87-1-265
HB0763_1(3): 87-1-265
HB0763_1(4): 87-1-265
HB0763_1(5): 87-1-265
HB0763_1(6): 87-1-265
HB0763_1(7): 87-1-265
HB0763_1(8): 87-1-265
HB0763_1: 87-1-265
HB0763_2(1): 87-1-265
HB0763_2(2): 87-1-265
HB0763_2(3): 87-1-265
HB0763_2(4): 87-1-265
HB0763_2: 87-1-265
HB0763_X(1): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(10): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(2): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(3): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(4): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(5): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(6): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(7): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(8): 87-1-265
HB0763_X(9): 87-1-265
HB0763_X: 87-1-265