Montana House Bill 676 - This could sell off 1.25M acres of State Trust Lands - that's almost 25%!!! This is not the Homesteading Bill

[DP_PublicLands]

This one seems to be floating under the radar! The main intent of the bill is water rights - but there's a catch. There's a section in this bill that FORCES the sale of school trust lands where the lessee requests it - if they have water rights on the lands and the lands are "isolated". This bill passed through committee today - and at the hearing it was stated that they assume this would affect 1.25 MILLION acres of state trust lands. What is "isolated"? one can only assume. It doesn't really matter - read the title of this thread again - THIS BILL WOULD FORCE THE SALE OF 1.25 MILLION ACRES OF STATE TRUST LAND!

Here's the link to the bill information - its moving along under the radar and needs to be stopped!

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2991?open_tab=sum

 

[R.K.]

That’s a pretty scary bill right there.

 

[Mountain Mule]

Thanks for the heads up. Emails being sent.

 

[seeth07]

if they have water rights on the lands

While Montana may be rich in public mountains, what keeps me in WI is the incredible wealth of water that is 100% public waters for my pleasure and use. I'd love to see that right carried westward and feel for you guys when it comes to BS crap like this using that false water right as justification. Yuck

 

[Ben Lamb]

Glad to see this posted. It's a bad bill for sure.

Light 'em up. The House is going on Transmittal break, but third reading is still on for tomorrow, I believe.

I've been out sick most of this week and didn't even hear about it until late last night. This is the time of the session weird stuff happens.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Confirmed that it's up on 3rd reading tomorrow AM.

Fire up the texts.

 

[Brad W]

Exhibit A in why transferring federal lands to the states would be a catastrophe.

 

[Brad W]

Are you tracking this @Big Fin?

 

[MLaird]

While the loss of state land would be terrible, the loss of funding for schools makes me upset. My kids are in public school and this could directly affect their experience.

I just texted my rep. And I was nice…

 

[stealthy_bowman]

Another republican gem. So surprising.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Wow. Another public resource grift from Galt.

At some point we are dumb for being shocked.