House Bill 432 revises Montana's water laws concerning the process for changing appropriation rights, introducing exceptions that allow appropriators to modify their water rights without prior approval from the department under specific conditions. For example, appropriators can construct redundant water supply wells or replacement wells, provided they withdraw from the same aquifer and meet certain criteria, such as maintaining the same capacity and not increasing water availability. The bill also allows municipalities and county water and sewer districts to change the place of use for unperfected municipal use permits without prior approval, as long as they adhere to specified conditions.

The bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including the deletion of the annual reporting requirement for municipalities regarding water diversion. It clarifies the jurisdiction of the chief water judge and associate water judge, and establishes a streamlined process for filing notices of change in appropriation rights, including procedures for handling objections and the requirement for a contested case hearing if a valid objection is raised. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for temporary changes in appropriation rights, allowing such changes for up to 10 years with renewal options, while ensuring that existing rights and environmental protections are maintained throughout the process.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_1(1): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_1(2): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_1(3): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_1(4): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_1(5): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_1: 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(1): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(10): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(11): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(2): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(3): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(4): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(5): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(6): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(7): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(8): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2(9): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_2: 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(1): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(10): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(11): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(12): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(13): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(14): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(15): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(2): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(3): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(4): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(5): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(6): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(7): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(8): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X(9): 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407
HB0432_X: 3-7-224, 85-2-309, 85-2-402, 85-2-407