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Senate tables SB209 after hours of testimony for and against 40-year limit on conservation easements
Summary
Sponsor Sen. Tony Tezak asked to table Senate Bill 209, which would limit conservation easements to 40 years and bar certain restrictions; the committee received several hours of testimony from ranchers, land trusts, hunters' groups and timber companies before the committee voted to table the bill.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Greg Usher opened a hearing on Senate Bill 209, an act that would limit the term length of conservation easements to 40 years, prohibit easement restrictions on agricultural activity and prohibit the transfer of conserved land to federal control. Sponsor Sen. Tony Tezak (Senate District 35) said he introduced the measure to protect "the Montana way of life," particularly ranching and agriculture, and then asked the committee to hear testimony while he worked on a solution outside the legislative process. "I and we, I believe, can achieve our main objective and goal. And have I there have regrettedly decided to table this bill," Tezak said in his opening remarks.
The committee heard several hours of testimony from a broad cross-section of Montana interests. Proponents of limiting perpetual easements included Charles Denow, representing United Property Owners of Montana, who argued long or perpetual easements can…
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