Bill to Limit State Interest in Water Rights

Montana’s HB 286 (2019 | MT) limits state access to water rights in 2 ways:

• A court must determine that the state is an owner of a water right
• OR
• state is in possession of a deed transferring ownership of the water right 

How did this start? Natural Resources & Conservation Trust Land Management Division claimed partial ownership of private water rights if water was used on state land – even if the well was on private land.

TSLN | Farm Bureau applauds state land water bill becoming Montana law