The bill revises laws concerning state lands and water rights, specifically prohibiting the Board of Land Commissioners from acquiring ownership of private water rights used on state lands. It amends existing sections of the law to allow lessees of state lands to register improvements made on those lands, including water rights, and establishes a process for compensation for these registered improvements when a lease changes hands. The bill also clarifies that the board may only obtain ownership of water rights that have both a place of use and diversion on state lands, while lessees retain rights that do not meet these criteria.

Additionally, the bill repeals several sections related to the adjudication of water rights and eliminates the water court's duty to adjudicate these rights by July 1, 2030. It amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) and provides for an immediate effective date upon passage and approval. The changes aim to streamline the management of state lands and water rights while ensuring that lessees are compensated for their improvements.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_1(1): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_1(2): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_1(3): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_1(4): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_1: 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(1): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(10): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(11): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(12): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(13): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(14): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(2): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(3): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(4): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(5): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(6): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(7): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(8): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2(9): 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_2: 3-7-101, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-223, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 77-1-134, 77-6-301, 77-6-302, 85-2-102, 85-2-141, 85-2-234, 85-2-235, 85-2-236, 85-2-306, 85-2-406, 85-2-701, 85-2-702, 85-2-704
HB0676_3(1): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(10): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(11): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(12): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(2): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(3): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(4): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(5): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(6): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(7): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(8): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3(9): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_3: 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X(1): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X(2): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X(3): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X(4): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X(5): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X(6): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X(7): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X(8): 77-6-301, 77-6-302
HB0676_X: 77-6-301, 77-6-302