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Committee narrowly approves bill requiring transparency when state uses water rights on state land
Summary
The Senate Natural Resources Committee approved Senate Bill 263, as amended, by a 6-5 vote after debate over whether the bill would improperly subject state-controlled water rights to private-rights processes and whether it raised constitutional concerns.
The Montana Senate Natural Resources Committee voted 6-5 to pass Senate Bill 263 as amended, a measure that would change how the state handles certain water rights used on state land by increasing transparency and requiring additional review.
Committee members debated constitutional limits and property-rights implications at length. Several senators said they feared the bill could create a precedent that would allow state control over private water rights; supporters said the amendment improves transparency and allows public scrutiny without preventing the state from using water rights when needed.
Senator Beard is the bill sponsor. Vice Chair Cuff moved the committee to…
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