The bill aims to clarify the decree process for certain water compacts in Montana, specifically addressing the objections period and amending existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Notably, the term "final" is deleted from the legal language, and "preliminary" is inserted in its place, indicating a shift in focus from final decrees to preliminary decrees. The bill extends the objections time limit for a final preliminary decree by an additional 180 days beyond the initial 180-day period, allowing for more time for parties to file objections. It also establishes that failure to object to a compact bars any subsequent cause of action in the water court, and outlines the procedures for filing objections and counterobjections.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for notifying tribal governments about the changes and specifies that it will take effect immediately upon passage and approval. It retroactively applies to preliminary decree objections filed on or after June 9, 2022, and includes a termination date for certain sections of the bill set for June 4, 2023. The amendments aim to streamline the process and ensure that all issue remarks are resolved before the issuance of a final decree, thereby enhancing the clarity and efficiency of water rights adjudication in Montana.

Statutes affected:
SB0207_1.pdf: 85-2-233, 85-2-270
SB0207_2.pdf: 85-2-233, 85-2-270
Amended: 85-2-233, 85-2-270
Introduced: 85-2-233, 85-2-270