The bill amends existing Montana law regarding the purposes for which public use easements may be granted on state land. Specifically, it adds new permissible uses for easements, including public uses described in 70-30-102 and public trails. Additionally, it modifies the language surrounding conservation easements, removing a specific reference to a nonprofit corporation for the Owen Sowerwine natural area and clarifying that easements can be granted to the department of fish, wildlife, and parks or to a nonprofit corporation for parcels adjacent to their lands as of January 1, 2001. The bill also revises the sections that outline the application process for easements and the termination of easements, ensuring that the language reflects the updated purposes. Furthermore, the bill streamlines the application process by allowing for certain exemptions from survey requirements and specifying the necessary documentation for various types of easements, such as private access roads and existing county roads. It clarifies that the department may waive survey requirements when sufficient information is available to define the boundaries of the easement. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_1(1): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_1(2): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_1(3): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_1(4): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_1(5): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_1(6): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_1: 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_X(1): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_X(2): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_X(3): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_X(4): 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105
HB0299_X: 77-2-101, 77-2-102, 77-2-105