House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant revisions to laws concerning state lands and water rights in Montana. The bill eliminates the water court's duty to adjudicate water rights by July 1, 2031, and prohibits the Board of Land Commissioners from obtaining ownership of private water rights used on state lands. Additionally, 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 introduces new provisions regarding the ownership of water rights, stipulating that the Board may only obtain ownership interests in water rights that have both a place of use and a place of diversion on state lands. Lessees will retain ownership of water rights that do not meet these criteria. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval, streamlining 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(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