Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

67th Legislature                                                                                                     SB 231.1
                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 231
                                               INTRODUCED BY M. BLASDEL
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   A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO PROVIDING A
   WATER RIGHT EXEMPTION FOR FAMILY TRANSFER DIVISION OF LAND; CLARIFYING THAT DIVISIONS
   OF LAND BY GIFT, SALE, OR AGREEMENT ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW UNDER TITLE 76, CHAPTERS 5
   AND 6; CLARIFYING THAT DIVISIONS OF LAND TRANSFERRED TO THE LANDOWNER'S IMMEDIATE
   FAMILY ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN ZONING REGULATIONS AND MINIMUM LOT SIZES; PROHIBITING
   SUBSEQUENT TRANSFERS OF DIVISIONS OF LAND FROM A LANDOWNER'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY FOR
   2 YEARS; PROVIDING A PENALTY; AMENDING SECTIONS 76-3-207 AND 85-2-306, MCA; AND
   PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY DATE.”
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   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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              Section 1. Section 76-3-207, MCA, is amended to read:
              "76-3-207.    Divisions or aggregations of land exempted from review but subject to survey
   requirements and zoning regulations -- exceptions -- fees for examination of division -- limits on
   transfer. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), unless the method of disposition is adopted for the purpose
   of evading this chapter, the following divisions or aggregations of tracts of record of any size, regardless of the
   resulting size of any lot created by the division or aggregation, are not subdivisions under this chapter but are
   subject to the surveying requirements of 76-3-401 for divisions or aggregations of land other than subdivisions
   and are subject to applicable zoning regulations adopted under Title 76, chapter 2:
              (a)   divisions made outside of platted subdivisions for the purpose of relocating common boundary
   lines between adjoining properties;
              (b)   divisions made outside of platted subdivisions for the purpose of a single gift or sale in each
   county to each member of the landowner's immediate family;
              (c)   divisions made outside of platted subdivisions by gift, sale, or agreement to buy and sell in which
   the landowner enters into a covenant for the purposes of this chapter with the governing body that runs with the
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   land and provides that the divided land will be used exclusively for agricultural purposes, subject to the
   provisions of 76-3-211;
              (d)   for five or fewer lots within a platted subdivision, the relocation of common boundaries;
              (e)   divisions made for the purpose of relocating a common boundary line between a single lot within a
   platted subdivision and adjoining land outside a platted subdivision. A restriction or requirement on the original
   platted lot or original unplatted parcel continues to apply to those areas.
              (f)   aggregation of parcels or lots when a certificate of survey or subdivision plat shows that the
   boundaries of the original parcels have been eliminated and the boundaries of a larger aggregate parcel are
   established. A restriction or requirement on the original platted lot or original unplatted parcel continues to apply
   to those areas.
              (2)   Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1),:
              (a)   within a platted subdivision filed with the county clerk and recorder, a division, redesign, or
   rearrangement of lots that results in an increase in the number of lots or that redesigns or rearranges six or
   more lots must be reviewed and approved by the governing body before an amended plat may be filed with the
   county clerk and recorder.;
              (b)   as provided in 76-3-211, a division of land exempted under subsection (1)(c) that is changed from
   agricultural purposes is subject to review under parts 5 and 6 of this chapter; and
              (c)   a division of land exempted under subsection (1)(b) is:
              (i)   subject to zoning regulations for residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural use within an
   applicable zoning district unless a variance is granted; and
              (ii) allowed to be at least 2 acres in size if subject to zoning regulations for residential use within an
   applicable zoning district.
              (3)   (a) Subject to subsection (3)(b), a division of land may not be made under this section unless the
   county treasurer has certified that all real property taxes and special assessments assessed and levied on the
   land to be divided have been paid.
              (b)   (i) If a division of land includes centrally assessed property and the property taxes applicable to
   the division of land are not specifically identified in the tax assessment, the department of revenue shall prorate
   the taxes applicable to the land being divided on a reasonable basis. The owner of the centrally assessed
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   property shall ensure that the prorated real property taxes and special assessments are paid on the land being
   sold before the division of land is made.
              (ii) The county treasurer may accept the amount of the tax prorated pursuant to this subsection (3)(b)
   as a partial payment of the total tax that is due.
              (4)   The governing body may examine a division or aggregation of land to determine whether or not
   the requirements of this chapter apply to the division or aggregation and may establish reasonable fees, not to
   exceed $200, for the examination.
              (5)   A person who receives a division of land pursuant to subsection (1)(b) may not transfer or
   otherwise convey the division of land to a nonimmediate family member for a minimum of 2 years after the date
   of the division unless the person demonstrates to the governing body a documented financial, medical, or other
   hardship requiring the sale or other conveyance of the division of land.
              (6)   A person who knowingly attempts to evade subdivision regulations through the use of a division of
   land pursuant to subsection (1)(b) is subject to a civil penalty of $5,000 for each division of land, payable to the
   governing body."
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              Section 2. Section 85-2-306, MCA, is amended to read:
              "85-2-306.   Exceptions to permit requirements. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b),
   ground water may be appropriated only by a person who has a possessory interest in the property where the
   water is to be put to beneficial use and exclusive property rights in the ground water development works.
              (b)   If another person has rights in the ground water development works, water may be appropriated
   with the written consent of the person with those property rights or, if the ground water development works are
   on national forest system lands, with any prior written special use authorization required by federal law to
   occupy, use, or traverse national forest system lands for the purpose of diversion, impoundment, storage,
   transportation, withdrawal, use, or distribution of water under the certificate.
              (c)   If the person does not have a possessory interest in the real property from which the ground water
   may be appropriated, the person shall provide to the owner of the real property written notification of the works
   and the person's intent to appropriate ground water from the works. The written notification must be provided to
   the landowner at least 30 days prior to constructing any associated works or, if no new or expanded works are
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   proposed, 30 days prior to appropriating the water. The written notification under this subsection is a notice
   requirement only and does not create an easement in or over the real property where the ground water
   development works are located.
              (2)   Inside the boundaries of a controlled ground water area, ground water may be appropriated only:
              (a)   according to a permit received pursuant to 85-2-508; or
              (b)   according to the requirements of a rule promulgated pursuant to 85-2-506.
              (3)   (a) Outside the boundaries of a controlled ground water area, a permit is not required before
   appropriating ground water by means of a well or developed spring:
              (i)   when the appropriation is made by a local governmental fire agency organized under Title 7,
   chapter 33, and the appropriation is used only for emergency fire protection, emergency fire training, and
   emergency fire-related operations, which may include enclosed storage;
              (ii) when a maximum appropriation of 350 gallons a minute or less is used in nonconsumptive
   geothermal heating or cooling exchange applications, all of the water extracted is returned without delay to the
   same source aquifer, and the distance between the extraction well and both the nearest existing well and the
   hydraulically connected surface waters is more than twice the distance between the extraction well and the
   injection well;
              (iii) except as provided in subsection (3)(a)(v), when the appropriation is outside a stream depletion
   zone, is 35 gallons a minute or less, and does not exceed 10 acre-feet a year, except that a combined
   appropriation from the same source by two or more wells or developed springs exceeding 10 acre-feet,
   regardless of the flow rate, requires a permit; or
              (iv) except as provided in subsection (3)(a)(v), when the appropriation is within a stream depletion
   zone, is 20 gallons a minute or less, and does not exceed 2 acre-feet a year, except that a combined
   appropriation from the same source by two or more wells or developed springs exceeding this limitation
   requires a permit; or
              (v)   when the appropriation is on a new lot or parcel created by a family transfer division of land
   provided for in 76-3-207(1)(b) and:
              (A)   is outside a stream depletion zone, is 35 gallons a minute or less, and does not exceed 10 acre-
   feet a year, and only one well or developed spring under this subsection (3)(a)(v) is located on the lot or parcel;
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   or
              (B)   is inside a stream depletion zone, is 20 gallons a minute or less, and does not exceed 2 acre-feet
   a year, and only one well or developed spring under this subsection (3)(a)(v) is located on the lot or parcel.
              (b)   (i) Within 60 days of completion of the well or developed spring and appropriation of the ground
   water for beneficial use, the appropriator shall file a notice of completion with the department on a form
   provided by the department through its offices.
              (ii) Upon receipt of the notice, the department shall review the notice and may, before issuing a
   certificate of water right, return a defective notice for correction or completion, together with the reasons for
   returning it. A notice does not lose priority of filing because of defects if the notice is corrected, completed, and
   refiled with the department within 30 days of notification of defects or within a further time as the department
   may allow, not to exceed 6 months.
              (iii) If a notice is not corrected and completed within the time allowed, the priority date of appropriation
   is the date of refiling a correct and complete notice with the department.
              (c)   A certificate of water right may not be issued until a correct and complete notice has been filed
   with the department, including proof of landowner notification or a written federal special use authorization as
   necessary under subsection (1). The original of the certificate must be sent to the appropriator. The department
   shall keep a copy of the certificate in its office in Helena. The date of filing of the notice of completion is the date
   of priority of the right.
              (4)   An appropriator of ground water by means of a well or developed spring first put to beneficial use
   between January 1, 1962, and July 1, 1973, who did not file a notice of completion, as required by laws in force
   prior to April 14, 1981, with the county clerk and recorder shall file a notice of completion, as provided in
   subsection (3), with the department to perfect the water right. The filing of a claim pursuant to 85-2-221 is
   sufficient notice of completion under this subsection. The priority date of the appropriation is the date of the
   filing of a notice, as provided in subsection (3), or the date of the filing of the claim of existing water right.
              (5)   An appropriation under subsection (4) is an existing right, and a permit is not required. However,
   the department shall acknowledge the receipt of a correct and complete filing of a notice of completion, except
   that for an appropriation of 35 gallons a minute or less, not to exceed 10 acre-feet a year, the department shall
   issue a certificate of water right. If a certificate is issued under this section, a certificate need not be issued
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   under the adjudication proceedings provided for in 85-2-236.
              (6)   A permit is not required before constructing an impoundment or pit and appropriating water for use
   by livestock if:
              (a)   the maximum capacity of the impoundment or pit is less than 15 acre-feet;
              (b)   the appropriation is less than 30 acre-feet a year;
              (c)   the appropriation is from an ephemeral stream, an intermittent stream, or another source other
   than a perennial flowing stream; and
              (d)   the impoundment or pit is to be constructed on and will be accessible to a parcel of land that is
   owned or under the control of the applicant and that is 40 acres or larger.
              (7)   (a) Within 60 days after constructing an impoundment or pit, the appropriator shall apply for a
   permit as prescribed by this part. Subject to subsection (7)(b), upon receipt of a correct and complete
   application for a stock water provisional permit, the department shall automatically issue a provisional permit. If
   the department determines after a hearing that the rights of other appropriators have been or will be adversely
   affected, it may revoke the permit or require the permittee to modify the impoundment or pit and may then make
   the permit subject to terms, conditions, restrictions, or limitations that it considers necessary to protect the rights
   of other appropriators. [For purposes of an adverse effects determination under this subsection, the department
   may not consider adverse effects on any water right identified in a written consent to approval filed pursuant to
   85-2-311.]
              (b)   If the impoundment or pit is on national forest system lands, an application is not correct and
   complete under this section until the applicant has submitted proof of any written special use authorization
   required by federal law to occupy, use, or traverse national forest system lands for the purpose of diversion,
   impoundment, storage, transportation, withdrawal, use, or distribution of water under the permit.
              (8)   A person may also appropriate water without applying for or prior to receiving a permit under rules
   adopted by the department under 85-2-113.
              (9)   Pursuant to 85-20-1902, the provisions of this section do not apply within the exterior boundaries
   of the Flathead Indian reservation. (Bracketed language in subsection (7)(a) terminates September 30, 2023--
   sec. 8, Ch. 243, L. 2017.)"
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              NEW SECTION. Section 3.     Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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              NEW SECTION. Section 4.     Retroactive applicability. [This act] applies retroactively, within the
   meaning of 1-2-109, to lots or parcels created by family transfer divisions of land on or after October 20, 2014.
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Statutes affected: 
SB0231_1.pdf: 76-3-207, 85-2-306
SB0231_2.pdf: 76-3-105, 76-3-207, 85-2-306
SB0231_3.pdf: 76-3-105, 76-3-207, 85-2-306
SB0231_4.pdf: 76-3-105, 76-3-207, 85-2-306
SB0231_5.pdf: 76-3-105, 76-3-207, 85-2-306
SB023